I*     DEC  30 1907      *; 


Divisioa    BS  ISisO 

Section  .A^'i2"4- 


THE    MESSAGE    OF    THE 
TWELVE    PROPHETS 


THE  MESSAGE  OF  THE 
TWELVE  PROPHETS 


BY  / 

WILLIAM   D.   MURRAY 


And  we  have  the  word  of  prophecy  made  more 
sure;  whereunto  ye  do  well  that  ye  take  heed,  as 
unto  a  lamp  shirftng  in  a  dark  place. — 2  Peter  i  :  19. 


New  York 

THE  INTERNATIONAL  COMMITTEE  OF 

YOUNG   MEN'S   CHRISTIAN   ASSOCIATIONS 

1904 


Copyright,  1904,  by 

THE  INTERNATIONAL  COMMITTEE  OF  YOUNG 

MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATIONS 


Introduction 


Several  reasons  have  influenced  the  author  in  preparing 
this  book.  The  first  is  that  those  who  have  spent  their 
Hves  studying  the  prophetic  books  of  the  Bible,  as  well  as 
those  who  have  studied  these  books  even  in  a  cursory 
fashion,  are  agreed  that  "  they  form  the  key  to  all  the 
chief  problems  of  Old  Testament  study,  and  without  them 
no  one  can  hope  to  make  any  real  progress  in  the  knowl- 
edge of  the  Old  Testament  as  a  whole." 

Another  reason  is  well  expressed  by  Cornill  in  his 
Prophets  of  Israel :  "  The  whole  history  of  humanity  has 
produced  nothing  which  can  be  compared  in  the  remotest 
degree  with  the  prophecy  of  Israel.  Through  prophecy 
Israel  became  the  prophet  of  mankind.  Let  this  never  be 
overlooked  or  forgotten — the  costliest  and  noblest  treas- 
ure that  man  possesses  he  owes  to  Israel  and  to  Israelitic 
prophecy." 

These  studies  are  an  attempt  to  make  the  Minor 
Prophets  a  subject  for  devotional  study.  They  have 
therefore  been  arranged  in  brief  daily  portions  and  are 
printed  so  that  questions  can  be  answered  in  writing.  It 
is  of  the  first  importance  that  this  should  be  done. 

The  text  used  in  preparing  this  volume  is  that  of  the 
American  Standard  Edition  of  the  Revised  Version  which 
should  be  used  by  students.  The  questions,  oftentimes, 
will  be  unintelligible  in  connection  with  other  texts  of  the 
Bible. 

The  studies  are  arranged  so  that  each  of  the  prophets 
forms  a  book  study  by  itself,  covering  one  or  more  com- 
plete weeks.  Students  are  urged,  while  studying  a  par- 
ticular book,  to  read  it  through  occasionally.  In  no  other 
way  can  the  message  in  its  entirety  be  grasped.  For  this 
purpose  the  volumes  on  the  Minor  Prophets  in  the  Mod- 
ern Reader's  Bible  and  in  the  Temple  Bible  are  recom- 
mended. The  former  is,  perhaps,  the  best  book  for  the 
purpose,  as  it  uses  the  Revised  Version  and  shows  the 


vi  Introduction 

literary  characteristics  of  the  book;  the  latter  is  in  the 
authorized  text  and  has  brief,  helpful  introductions.  In 
this  connection  the  chart  at  the  end  of  the  book  ought  to 
be  carefully  filled  in  as  the  studies  proceed. 

A  chronological  chart  is  printed  giving  the  place  of  the 
prophets  in  the  history  of  the  Hebrew  people,  together 
with  the  names  and  dates  of  a  few  of  the  more  important 
kings.  In  many  cases  the  date  of  the  prophet  can  be  fixed 
only  approximately,  but  some  order  had  to  be  adopted,  and 
the  one  here  followed  is  that  which  commends  itself  to 
the  author.  The  map  of  the  country  is  of  great  impor- 
tance and  should  be  frequently  consulted. 

From  time  to  time,  throughout  the  studies,  references 
to  other  books  of  the  Old  Testament  and  to  various  his- 
torical events  will  be  found,  which  it  is  thought  will  give 
a  fairly  complete,  though  brief,  outline  of  the  history  of 
the  Old  Testament,  at  least  an  outline  upon  which  future 
studies  may  be  based. 

Many  books  might  be  recommended,  besides  those  above 
mentioned,  but  only  two  or  three  need  be  referred  to  here. 
George  Adam  Smith's  Book  of  the  Tzvelve  Prophets  in 
the  Expositors'  Bible  Series  is  almost  indispensable,  if  one 
wishes  to  hear  the  message  for  to-day  which  these  old 
prophets  spoke.  Sander's  and  Kent's  Messages  of  the 
Prophets,  a  paraphrase  of  the  text,  throws  a  flood  of  light 
upon  the  meaning  of  the  books.  Farrar's  Minor  Prophets 
in  Men  of  the  Bible  Series  and  The  Minor  Prophets  by 
Rev.  John  Adams,  in  Bible  Class  Primers,  are  small  but 
helpful  books.  The  thanks  of  the  author  are  heartily 
given  to  all  those  from  whose  works  he  has  quoted. 

The  words  of  a  recent  writer  might  well  be  repeated 
here  :  "  It  is  hardly  necessary,"  he  says,  "  to  bespeak  atten- 
tion for  the  Scriptures  included  in  this  volume.  They  are 
*  minor '  only  in  length ;  for  the  rest,  it  is  doubtful  if  any 
collection  of  miscellaneous  literature  has  ever  brought  to- 
gether so  many  writers  of  such  surpassing  interest.  They 
stretch  over  a  period  of  time  which,  on  one  theory  of  dates, 
is  as  great  as  that  which  in  English  literature  separates 
Wycliffe  from  Browning.  Of  the  individual  prophets, 
Amos  was  a  herdsman  and  dresser  of  sycamore  trees ; 
Daniel  a  mage,  and  one  of  a  triumvirate  administering  a 
world  empire ;  Jonah  was  a  missionary ;  Micah  a  plain 
countryman ;  Zephaniah  of  royal  descent ;  the  rest  have 


Introduction  vii 

died  away  from  human  record  leaving  only  their  works  to 
speak  for  them."  And  another  has  said :  "  The  period  be- 
tween Amos  and  the  return  is  the  golden  age  of  Old  Testa- 
ment literature." 

These  studies  were  prepared  originally  for  use  in  the 
author's  Bible  class  of  business  men,  and  have  been  taught 
by  him  at  various  times.  Out  of  each  class  which  has 
studied  them,  one  or  more  of  the  members  has  gone  into 
Christian  work ;  they  have  heard  the  call  of  God  through 
the  prophets  of  old.  It  is  the  earnest  desire  of  the  author 
that  through  this  book  the  same  call  shall  come  to  many 
more  men,  and  that  yet  others,  in  larger  numbers,  shall 
listen  to  the  message  to  live  a  fuller  and  a  richer  Christian 
life. 

William  D.  Murray. 

Plainfield,  N.  J. 


VIU 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets        ix 


1.  Destruction  Coming.  'Amos. 

2.  Sin  and  Its  Punishment.  " 

3.  A  Lamentation. 

4.  Visions. 

5.  Doom  and  Redemption. 

6.  Sin,  Love,  Hope.  Hosea. 

7.  Charge  Against  the  People. 

8.  Corruption  of  Leaders. 

9.  Sin,  Sorrow,  Exile. 

10.  Sowing  and  Reaping. 

11.  "The  Yearning  God." 

12.  Sin  and  Its  Punishment. 

13.  Visions  of  the  Triumphant  Future. 

14.  God's  Controversy. 

15.  A  Call  to  Repentance. 

16.  Vengeance  is  Mine. 

17.  The  Just  Shall  Live  by  Faith. 

18.  "The  Curse  of  Cowardice." 

19.  Arise  and  Build. 

20.  Visions  of  Encouragement. 

21.  God  Reigns. 

22.  "  Thus  Saith  Jehovah."  " 

23.  The  King  of  Peace. 

24.  The  Great  Deliverance. 

25.  Unconscious  Corruption.  Malachi. 

26.  Punishment  and  Deliverance.  Joel. 

27.  The  Holy  Spirit  and  Deliverance.  " 

28.  Salvation  to  the  Uttermost.  Jonah. 


Micah. 


Zephaniah. 

Nahum. 

Habakkuk. 

Obadiah. 

Haggai. 

Zechariah. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


FIRST   WEEK.     DESTRUCTION    COMING. 


First  Day  :  Amos  1:1,2.    Title  and  Text. 

Part  I.  Note  the  title  of  the  book  in  v.  i. 
The  author:  Amos.     Where  did  he  live?     Where 
was  it  ?     I  Chron.  1 1 :6. 
What  was  his  occupation?    1:1,  7:14,  15. 

What  does  he  say  he  is  not? 

Notice  how  his  outdoor  life  is  reflected  in  his  writ- 
ings by  the  illustrations  he  uses.  3:12;  9:13;  7:1; 
2:13;  6:12;  5:8. 

From  which  nation  did  Amos  come? 

Where  was  he  speaking  when  he  first  delivered  his 
message?    7:13. 

This  may  have  been  the  region  where  John  the  Bap- 
tist preached,  Luke  i  :8o,  and  where  Christ  was  with 
the  wild  beasts,  Mark  1:13. 

Recalling  that  before  this  time  (937  B.C.)  the  He- 
brew people  had  been  divided  into  two  nations,  Judah 
and  Israel — one  in  the  south,  the  other  in  the  north — 
to  which  of  these  was  Amos  speaking?  Cf.  3:1;  5:1 
et  al. 

What  is  the  date  of  the  book?  v.  i.  Forty  years 
after  Elisha.     On  the  earthquake,  see  Zech.  14:5. 

Notice  that  he  was  the  first  of  the  prophets  to  write 
his  prophecy.     He  came  before  Isaiah  and  Jeremiah. 

Part  II.  Verse  2  is  the  prophet's  text.  What  does  he 
mean  by  "Jehovah  will  roar  from  Zion"?  Consult  the 
marginal  references. 

What  indication  is  there  in  v.  2  of  the  far-reaching 
effect  of  Jehovah's  voice? 


2         The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


FIRST  WEEK.     DESTRUCTION   COMING. 


Second  Day:  Amos  i:6-io.    Destruction  of  Foreign 
Enemies. 

Part  III.  The  Introduction  begins  at  v.  3  and  ex- 
tends to  2:16. 

Amos  of  Judah  has  come  from  his  southern  home  to 
speak  to  the  people  of  the  northern  kingdom ;  this  farmer 
— how  should  he  attract  attention?  His  method  is  dis- 
closed in  1 :3-2  :8. 

He  first  announces  that  God  is  going  to  punish  three 
foreign  nations.  Name  them.  Locate  them  on  the  map. 
Notice  that  they  were  far  away  from  Israel  and  that  they 
were  Israel's  enemies. 

Do  you  think  this  would  tend  to  induce  his  hearers  to 
listen  to  what  this  man  had  to  say  ? 


Notice  the  arrangement  of  each  paragraph  beginning 
"  Thus  saith  Jehovah  "  and  ending  "  I  will  send  a  fire." 
This  arrangement  is  clearly  brought  out  in  the  printing  in 
the  Modern  Reader's  Bible. 

As  you  study  the  book  be  on  the  lookout  for  the  key 
word  and  key  text  asked  for  in  this  study  for  the  seventh 
day  of  the  fifth  week. 

Prayer  :  "  Almighty  God,  graciously  protect  and  con- 
duct us  through  the  uncertainties  of  this  new  year  of  our 
earthly  pilgrimage ;  prepare  us  for  its  duties  and  trials,  its 
joys  and  sorrows ;  help  us  to  watch  and  pray,  and  to  be 
ready  like  men  that  wait  for  their  Lord ;  and  grant  that 
every  change,  whether  it  be  of  prosperity  or  adversity,  of 
life  or  death,  may  bring  us  nearer  to  Thee,  and  to  that 
great  eternal  year  of  joy  and  rest  which,  after  years  of 
this  vain  earthly  life,  awaits  the  faithful  in  Thy  blissful 
presence.     Amen." 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


FIRST   WEEK.     DESTRUCTION   COMING. 


Third  Day  :  Amos  i  :i  1-2 :3.    Destruction  of  Enemies 
Who  Are  Related  to  Them. 

Amos  comes  nearer  to  them  now  and  foretells  the  pun- 
ishment of  three  nations  that  were  related  to  Israel — 
Edom,  Ammon,  and  Moab.  How  were  they  related  to 
Israel  ?  How  were  they  situated  geographically  with  ref- 
erence to  Israel ? 

Notice  more  at  length  the  arrangement  of  each  para- 
graph :  the  number  of  transgressions  and  the  description 
of  their  sin.     What  was  the  sin  in  each  case  ? 

Familiarize  yourself  with  this  simple  chronological 
chart  which  Dr.  Schauffler  suggests:  (The  dates  are  only 
approximate). 


/ffindr 
Jt)fqp/\t,is 


6kr 

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Message  for  To-day  :  "  Thus  saifh  Jehovah,"  vs.  i  .-3, 
6,  9,  II,  13;  2:1.  God  is  still  speaking  to  men,  not  only 
through  these  old,  yet  ever  new,  words  of  His  prophet, 
but  in  the  experiences  of  life ;  sin  is  still  sin,  and  God  still 
punishes  it.  It  is  for  us  to  listen  for  His  voice,  and,  hear- 
ing it,  to  obey  it. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


FIRST   WEEK.     DESTRUCTION   COMING. 


Fourth  Day:  Amos  2:4,  5.    Judah  to  be  Destroyed. 

About  which  nation  does  he  prophesy  here? 

Judah  was  half  as  large  again  as  Rhode  Island. 
What  was  their  sin  ? 


How  would  this  word  from  Amos  make  his  hearers  feel 
toward  him? 


The  Minor  Prophets:  These  books  are  called  by  this 
name,  not  because  they  are  of  less  importance  than  other 
books  of  the  Bible.  "  It  was  the  Latins  who  designated 
them  '  The  Minor  Prophets,'  on  account  of  their  brevity 
as  compared  with  those  who  are  the  major,  because  of 
their  ample  volume."  "  The  name  Minor  Prophets  has 
proved  to  be  very  misleading.  Thomas  Paine  is  by  no 
means  the  only  person  who  has  supposed  that  they  were 
so  called  because  of  their  inferior  importance.  They  owe 
their  name  solely  to  their  smaller  size,  and  the  book  which 
contained  them  was  known  in  Greek  as  ra  8w8eKairpo<f>r]Tov, 
or  twelve-prophet  book." 

Meaning  of  word  prophet,  i.  Ex.  7:1,  2;  2.  Dan. 
4:24;  3.  Acts  13:1;  Luke  7:28.  Study  these  passages 
and  notice  the  three  different  senses  in  which  the  word 
is  used. 

Amos  says  he  was  not  a  prophet.  "  The  wind  bloweth 
where  it  listeth,  so  the  Holy  Spirit  saw  in  this  simple 
herdsman  an  instrument  fitted  for  His  work."  May  not 
this  be  true  of  you  ?  Read  the  following  passages  and  see 
what  some  of  the  men  were  whom  God  used :  Judges  6:11; 
I  Sam.  16:11 ;  i  Kings  19:19;  i  Sam.  9:3,  20;  Ex.  3:1. 

Prophets  have  been  called  "  The  greatest  gift  of  God  to 
the  ancient  world." 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


FIRST  WEEK.     DESTRUCTION  COMING. 


Fifth  Day  :  Amos  2 :6-8.    Israel  to  Suffer. 

"  Now  he  has  got  them  just  where  he  wants  them.  He 
says,  '  You  think  it  is  a  good  thing  to  destroy  Damascus, 
Tyre,  and  even  Judah.  Listen.  I  have  still  another 
word.'  "  Then  he  goes  on  to  tell  of  the  destruction  of 
their  own  land. 

What  was  their  sin  ? 

Cf .  Ex.  22  '.26  on  2 :8,  showing  how  the  marginal  refer- 
ences help  explain  the  text. 

Read  the  following  passages  and  state  the  moral  condi- 
tion of  Israel  at  this  time.     5:11-12;  8:5-7;  3:15;  4:1. 

It  was  also  a  time  of  great  political  prosperity. 

What  indications  are  there  of  wealth  and  luxury? 

Read  the  passages  in  the  history  telling  about  the  times 
in  which  Amos  lived.  Uzziah,  King  of  Judah,  2  Kings 
15 :  I  ^^  seq.,  Jeroboam  II  King  of  Israel,  2  Kings  14:23 
et  seq. 

Prof.  W.  W.  White  suggests  the  following  chart.  It 
shows  how  Amos  gradually  approached  his  announcement 
to  Israel. 


'juna.9cm 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


FIRST  WEEK.     DESTRUCTION  COMING. 


Sixth  Day  :  Amos  2  :g-i6.    God's  Goodness  and  Their 
Punishment. 

Read  vs.  9-11  and  state  what  God  had  done  for  Israel. 


What  was  a  Nazarite  ?    Cf .  Numb.  6 :2,  3. 


What  was  to  be  their  punishment?    Vs.  13-16. 


Read  1 13-2  :i6  and  make  a  hst  of  eight  national  sins 
hated  by  God. 


The  Minor  Prophets  are  more  frequently  quoted  in  the 
New  Testament  than  the  Major  Prophets.  The  text  of 
the  first  Christian  sermon  is  taken  from  Joel  (Acts 
2:17-21)  ;  Stephen  gives  emphasis  to  his  argument  by  a 
quotation  from  Amos  (Acts  7:42,  43)  ;  St.  James  by  a 
quotation  from  the  same  prophet  decides  the  question  dis- 
cussed at  the  first  Christian  council  (Acts  15  :i6,  17)  ;  Joel 
teaches  the  momentous  fact  of  the  resurrection  and  a  gen- 
eral judgment  (Joel  3:13-16)  ;  Micah  reveals  to  men  the 
birthplace  of  our  Lord  (Matt.  2:6);  Zechariah  fore- 
shadows His  crucifixion  (John  19:37)  ;  Jonah  His  resur- 
rection (Matt.  12:39,  41)-  See  also  Matt.  2:15;  9:13; 
ji:io;  12:7;  Rom,  1:17;  9:13;  9:25;  9:26;  10:13. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


FIRST   WEEK.     DESTRUCTION   COMING. 


Seventh  Day:  Amos  Chs.  i  and  2.    "The  Heathen's 
Crimes  and  Israel's." 

To  fix  in  mind  the  divisions  so  far  made  of  the  book, 
read  1:1-2:16  and  fill  out  the  following  in  your  own 
words : 

I.  Title  I  :i. 

II.  Text  1 :2. 

III.  Introduction  1:3-2:16. 

Destruction  coming  upon  foreign  enemies : 
I. 


2. 


Destruction  coming  upon  related  enemies 
I. 


'2, 


Destruction  coming  upon  his  own  nation  JudaK. 
Destruction  coming  upon  Israel. 
Their  sin  and  punishment. 
Memorize  2  Pet.  i  :ig. 


8         The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


SECOND  WEEK.    SIN  AND  ITS  PUNISHMENT. 


First  Day  :  Amos  3  :i-8.    This  is  no  Accident. 

Part  IV  of  the  book  begins  here  and  includes  chs. 
3  and  4.    It  might  be  called  The  First  Sermon. 
Against  whom  does  he  speak  ? 

What  is  his  subject?     V.  2. 

Where  was  he  speaking?     See  7  :i2,  13. 


Read  vs.  3-8  and  state  how  these  words  show  that  God's 
purpose  to  punish  Israel  is  not  accidental. 

What  do  vs.  7  and  8  tell  us  about  prophecy  ?  Cf .  calls 
of  Moses,  Ex.  3:1-4;  Isa.  6:6;  Jer.  i  :4-io. 


Write  out  a  summary  of  vs.  2-8. 


We  should  remember  that  these  Old  Testament  prophe- 
cies were  originally  sermons  or  addresses  delivered  orally 
by  a  man  to  the  people  for  whom  they  were  primarily  in- 
tended. Afterward  they  were  written  down  and  pre- 
served for  us. 

Message  for  To-day:  Only  those  who  hear  God  can 
speak  for  God,  v.  7.  The  message  must  be  received  before 
it  can  be  delivered.  Am  I  living,  day  by  day,  such  a  life 
that  in  it  I  may  expect  God  to  speak  to  me  ? 

"  Can  two  zvalk  together,  except  they  be  agreed f  "  v.  3. 
Companionship  with  God  depends  on  going  the  way  God 
goes  and  on  agreement  with  God.  If  we  do  His  will  we 
shall  have  sweet  fellowship  with  Him. 

Memorize  John  7:17. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


SECOND  WEEK.     SIN  AND  ITS  PUNISHMENT. 


Second  Day  :  Amos  3 :9-i5.     Civil  Oppression. 
Where  was  Ashdod?    Egypt? 
Why  were  they  called  ? 

What  accusation  does  he  make  against  Israel  here  ? 
What  does  he  mean  by  Samaria?    Vs.  9  and  12. 
Write  out  in  your  own  words  vs.  9-15- 

Of  what  crimes  are  they  accused  here  ? 

Winter  house,  summer  house,  v.  15.  This  does  not  indi- 
cate two  houses,  but  different  parts  of  the  same  house. 
Thompson  says :  "  It  is  rare  to  meet  a  family  that  has  an 
entirely  separate  dwelling  for  summer."  Cf .  Judges  3  :20 ; 
Jer.  36:22. 

What  is  the  meaning  of  prophecy  ? 

Three  Hebrew  words  are  used:  Nabi=^to  bubble  up; 
Roeh=:one  who  sees  in  a  trance  ;  Choseh^^seer.  All  three 
words  are  used  in  i  Chron.  29  :29. 

Prophet  means  "  one  who  interprets  for  another."  See 
I  Kings  18 :22.  Foretelling  was  not  their  most  important 
work.  Neither  Samuel  nor  John  foretold  the  future.  In 
their  calls  nothing  was  said  about  foretelling.    See  Isa.  6. 

"  In  general,  it  is  of  the  deepest  importance,  for 
any  genuine  comprehension  of  the  prophets  in  their  real 
grandeur,  to  see  that  they  were  preachers  of  righteous- 
ness, statesmen  and  patriots,  enlightened  to  teach  an  ever- 
apostatizing  nation — 

'  What  makes  a  kingdom  great  and  keeps  it  so, 
What  ruins  kingdoms  and  lays  cities  flat.' 

They  were  messengers  from  Jehovah,  Hag.  i  :i3,  men 
of  God." 


lo       The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


SECOND  WEEK.     SIN  AND  ITS  PUNISHMENT. 


Third  Day  :  Amos  4  :i-5.     Israel's  Guilt. 

Kine  of  Bashan=:the  women  of  the  nation. 
With  hooks,  V.  2.    The  Assyrians  led  their  captives  away 
by  hooks  or  rings  in  the  upper  lip. 
What  was  their  sin  ?    Vs.  1-3. 


What  is  the  figure  in  vs.  2,  3  ? 

Where  and  what  was  Gilgal  ?     Bethel  ? 

What  sin  is  described  in  vs.  4,  5? 

That  zvhtch  is  leavened,  v.  5.  See  marginal  reference 
for  explanation. 

This  passage  is  an  example  of  the  use  of  irony. 

What  was  the  condition  of  Israel  in  Amos'  time  ?  3  :io ; 
2  :6-8 ;  8  4-6 ;  5  :i  1,12 ;  4  :i ;  2  7 ;  8 14 ;  6 :6. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       1 1 


SECOND  WEEK.     SIN  AND  ITS  PUNISHMENT. 


Fourth   Day:    Amos   4:6-11;    Gen.    19:17-25.     Un- 
heeded Punishment. 

Different   punishments   are   described   here;    what    is 
meant  by  each  ? 

Cleanness  of  teeth,  v.  6. 


Withholden  the  rain,  v.  7. 

Smitten  with  blasting,  vs.  9,  10,  11. 


What  does  the  refrain,  in  vs.  6,  8,  9,  10  and  11,  "  Yet 
have  ye  not  returned  unto  me,"  show  us  of  God's  purpose 
in  sending  these  punishments?     Cf.  Heb.  12:6. 


"  Amos  is  especially  the  poor  man's  prophet,  for  he  was 
a  poor  man  himself ;  not  a  courtier  like  Isaiah,  or  a  priest 
like  Jeremiah,  or  a  sage  like  Daniel ;  but  a  herdsman  and 
a  gatherer  of  sycamore  fruit  in  Tekoa,  near  Bethlehem, 
where  Amos  was  born.  What  was  the  secret  of  this  herds- 
man's strength  ?  He  believed  and  preached  the  kingdom 
of  God  and  His  righteousness :  the  simple  but  infinite  dif- 
ference between  right  and  wrong,  and  the  certain  doom 
of  wrong,  if  wrong  was  persisted  in." 


i^       The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


SECOND  WEEK.     SIN  AND  ITS  PUNISHMENT. 


Fifth  Day:  Amos  4:12,  13.     The  Punishment, 
To  what  does  the  word  "  therefore  "  refer  in  v.  12? 

What  was  it  God  was  going  to  do  to  them  ? 

What  kind  of  a  God  is  described  in  v.  13  ? 


"  Uttered  though  it  was  some  seven-and-twenty  cen- 
turies ago,  the  Book  of  Amos  appeals  in  a  very  striking 
way  to  present-day  society.  History  repeats  itself :  the 
evils  against  which  the  prophet  inveighed  might  be  seen 
in  their  full  in  the  later  days  of  the  Roman  Empire,  in  the 
France  of  Louis  XIV.,  but  never  in  more  startling  guise 
than  in  the  Christendom  of  the  present  day — extremes  of 
wealth  and  poverty  grievously  accentuated,  the  pursuit  of 
pleasure  and  luxury  treated  as  the  supreme  end  of  life  by 
many,  embittered  struggles  between  capital  and  labor, 
and  with  it  all  a  fading  of  the  recognition  of  One  above 
all  who  sees  and  judges — such  evils,  reproducing  those  of 
an  earlier  day,  should  warn  the  nations  that  obstinate  re- 
fusal to  attend  to  God's  message  must  be  again  to  invoke 
the  same  doom." 

Message  for  To-day  :  "  Prepare  to  meet  thy  God," 
V.  12.  Our  whole  life  on  earth  is  a  preparatory  school. 
Some  day  we  shall  meet  the  King  of  kings ;  what  kind  of 
preparation  ought  ours  to  be  as  we  look  forward  to  that 
day?  Our  future  destiny  depends  on  our  present  prepa- 
rations. We  must  be  sons  noiv  to  be  heirs  hereafter.  "  If 
children,  then  heirs."     Rom.  8:17. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets        13 


SECOND  WEEK.     SIN  AND  ITS  PUNISHMENT. 


Sixth  Day  :  Amos,  Chs.  3  and  4. 

Read  chs.  3  and  4  and  fill  out  the  following  outline : 
IV.  First  Sermon. 
Subject : 

3:3-8. 

9-15- 
4:1-5. 

a  1-3. 

b  4,  5. 
6-11. 
a  6. 
b  7,  8. 
c  9. 
d  10. 
e  II. 
12,  13- 
What  would  you  say  was  the  subject  of  this  sermon? 


Write  out  in  fifty  words  the  substance  of  this  first  ser- 
mon. 


14       The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


SECOND  WEEK.     SIN  AND  ITS  PUNISHMENT. 


Seventh  Day  :  Amos,  Chs.  3  and  4. 

What  would  you  say  if  you  had  to  write  an  address  on 
the  words  of  v.  2,  "  You  only  have  I  known  of  all  the 
families  of  the  earth,  therefore  I  will  visit  upon  you  all 
your  iniquities." 


Does  the  fact  that  when  God  speaks  His  prophets  had 
to  speak  (3:8)  have  any  application  to  your  life  as  a 
Christian?  Has  He  spoken  to  you?  Have  you  spoken? 
"  Let  him  that  heareth  say,  come."  Is  there  anything  in 
your  life  that  corresponds  with  the  false  zeal  of  4  4,  5  ? 

Notice  the  source  of  the  prophet's  information  as  stated 
in  1:3,  6,  9,  II;  2:2,  4,  6;  3:1;  5:4. 

Where  does  your  message  come  from? 

Prayer  :  "  O  God,  who  hast  made  our  days  as  an  hand- 
breadth,  so  that  our  age  is  as  nothing  before  Thee ;  im- 
press us  with  a  sense  of  our  frailty,  and  so  teach  us  to 
number  our  days  that  we  may  apply  our  hearts  unto  wis- 
dom. Dispose  us  to  walk  circumspectly,  redeeming  the 
time ;  to  be  sober,  watchful,  and  prayerful ;  and  to  do  with 
all  our  might  whatsoever  our  hand  findeth,  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  Thy  glory,  the  good  of  our  fellow-men,  and 
the  furtherance  of  our  own  spiritual  welfare.    Amen." 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets        15 


THIRD   WEEK.    A   LAMENTATION. 


First  Day:  Amos  5:1-3.     Statement. 

Part  V  of  the  book  is  The  Second  Sermon:  A  Lamen- 
tation, chs.  5  and  6. 

Against  whom  does  he  speak  ? 

Who  is  meant  by  the  Virgin  of  Israel  ?    V.  2. 

What  is  the  meaning  of  v.  3  ? 

Note  that  vs.  1-3  form  a  little  lyric  poem. 

How  the  prophets  received  their  message : 

1.  Visions,  Ezek.  1:4;  Obad.  i;  Hos.  12:10. 

2.  Dreams,  Judges  7:13;  I  Sam.  28:15. 

3.  The  spoken  word,  i  Sam.  3:11;!  Kings  19 :9. 

4.  Divine  impulse,  Joel  i  :i  ;  Ezek,  18:1 ;  i  Sam.  10:5,  6. 

"  They  were  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost." 

Although  Amos  was  the  first  to  write  his  prophecy, 
there  had  been  prophets  before  him.  Deborah  is  called 
a  prophetess  (Judges  4  :^) .  Moses,  Samuel,  Nathan,  Gad, 
Abijah,  and  others  are  called  prophets  (Deut.  34:10; 
I  Sam.  22  :5  ;  I  Kings  i  :8 ;  Acts  13  :2o).  Find  other  ref- 
erences. The  two  best  known  are  Elijah  and  his  successor 
Elisha,  prophets  of  Israel,  who  lived  about  875-800  B.C., 
and  who  may  be  remembered  as  the  first  of  a  great  line. 
Elijah  has  been  called  "  one  of  the  most  Titanic  personages 
in  all  the  Old  Testament." 


1 6       The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


THIRD   WEEK.    A  LAMENTATION. 


Second  Day  :  Amos  5  :4-9.     Seek  God. 
What  were  Bethel,  Gilgal,  and  Beer-sheba  ? 
What  did  their  seeking  of  these  places  indicate  ? 

What  was  their  sin  ?     V.  7. 

Who  were  they  to  seek  ?     Vs.  5,  6,  8. 

What  was  the  house  of  Joseph  ?     V.  6. 

What  character  of  God  is  indicated  by  vs.  8  and  9? 

Memorize  v.  4. 

Message  for  To-day  :  "  Seek  not  Bethel  .  .  . 
Seek  the  Lord."  Some  people  seem  to  think  that  by  going 
to  the  regular  place  of  worship  they  are  fulfilling  all  of 
God's  requirements.  It  is  not  so.  He  wants  us  to  seek 
Him — no  mere  form  can  take  the  place  of  such  seeking, 
even  when  that  form  takes  us  to  church.  Our  religion  is 
a  religion  of  the  person.  The  New  Testament  equivalent 
of  these  words  is  the  saying  of  Jesus,  "  Follow  me." 

Read  Ps.  121. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       17 


THIRD   WEEK.    A   LAMENTATION. 


Third  Day:  Amos  5:10-15.    Their  Sins  and  Promise 
OF  Help. 

What  was  "  the  gate  "  ?    Vs.  10,  15. 

What  sins  are  enumerated  here  ?     Cf .  Hag.  i  :6. 

Can  you  name  any  similar  sins  to-day  ? 

What  class  is  addressed  here? 


The  houses  seem  to  have  been  usually  of  dried  brick. 
To  build  of  hewn  stone  would  indicate  wealth. 


Why  is  God  called  the  Lord  of  Hosts  ?  Of  what  hosts 
is  He  Lord? 

Message  for  To-day  :  The  way  to  live  is  by  seeking 
good,  V.  14.  But  men  seem  to  think  that  they  live  by  seek- 
ing evil.  It  is  the  old  story  of  the  prodigal  son :  we  must 
needs  journey  into  a  far  country  and  waste  our  substance 
in  riotous  living. 


1 8        The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


THIRD   WEEK.    A  LAMENTATION. 


Fourth  Day  :  Amos  5  :  16-27.     Sorrow  Coming. 
What  was  to  be  the  result  ? 

To  whom  does  he  refer  in  v.  18? 
Write  out  v.  19  in  your  own  words. 

What  is  the  meaning  of  Day  of  Jehovah  ?    V.  20. 


•     V.  21.  "  Privilege  and  means  of  grace  won't  save, 
beware  of  wickedness  and  worship." 
Describe  the  three  different  kinds  of  offerings  referred 
to  in  V.  22. 


What  does  he  mean  by  v.  25  ? 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets        19 


THIRD   WEEK.    A   LAMENTATION. 


Fifth  Day  :  Amos  6  :i-6.  Heartless  Self-indulgence. 

To  what  class  of  the  people  does  the  prophet  speak  here  ? 
Vs.  1,6. 


Where  was  Calneh,  Hamath,  and  Gath 


What  was  their  sin  ? 


More  men  are  spoiled  by  prosperity  than  by  adversity. 

Message  for  To-day  :  "  Woe  to  them  that  are  at  ease 
in  Zion."  There's  a  danger  in  feeling  satisfied  in  Zion  to- 
day. God  demands  of  us  a  holy  dissatisfaction.  He  has 
saved  us  and  for  that  we  rejoice ;  but  until  sin  and  sorrow 
and  shame  are  put  away  we  cannot  be  "  at  ease  in  Zion." 


"  Far-called  our  navies  melt  away — 

On  dune  and  headland  sinks  the  fire — 
Lo,  all  our  pomp  of  yesterday 

Is  one  with  Nineveh  and  Tyre ! 
Judge  of  the  Nations  spare  us  yet, 
Lest  we  forget — lest  we  forget." 


20       The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


THIRD    WEEK.    A   LAMENTATION. 


Sixth  Day :  Amos  6 •.y-ii.    Their  Punishment. 
What  was  their  punishment  to  be  ? 

What  is  the  meaning  of  the  loth  verse? 

Why  "  uncle  "  ?    V.  lo.    See  margin. 


What  custom  is  referred  to  in  "  Burneth  him  "  ?    V.  lo. 
Cf.  I  Sam.  31  :i2. 


Why  would  it  be  dangerous  to  "  make  mention  of  the 
name  of  Jehovah  "  ?    V.    10. 


Prayer  : "  Lord  God  Almighty,  we  stand  in  awe  of  Thy 
majesty ;  we  are  as  nothing  in  our  own  eyes  ;  we  know  that 
we  cannot  plead  our  own  merit.  But  we  come  asking  for- 
giveness of  our  sins  through  the  merits  of  Thy  dear  Son 
our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.  Because  of  His  great 
sacrifice  of  Himself  for  our  sins  may  we  escape  the  pun- 
ishments we  have  so  richly  merited,  and  the  glory  shall 
be  His  and  His  alone.    Amen." 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       21 


THIRD  WEEK.    A   LAMENTATION. 


Seventh  Day  :  Amos  6  '.12-14.    The  Conquest  is  Sure. 

Verse  12  has  been  paraphrased :  "  A  moral  order  exists 
which  it  is  as  impossible  to  break  without  disaster  as  it 
would  be  to  break  the  natural  order  by  driving  horses  upon 
a  precipice.  There  is  an  inherent  necessity  in  the  sinner's 
doom." 

What  punishment  is  foretold  here  ? 


Compare  v.  14  with  2  Kings  14:25  and  with  the  map 
and  see  how  extensive  Jeroboam's  kingdom  was. 
Fill  out  the  following  outline : 
V.  Second  Sermon. 
Subject: 

5:1-3. 
4-9. 
10-13. 

14-15. 
16-17. 
18-20. 
21-24. 

25-27. 
6:1-6. 

7-1 1. 
12-14. 

Write  out  in  thirty  words  the  substance  of  the  prophet's 
message  in  this  second  sermon. 


22       The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


FOURTH   WEEK.    VISIONS. 


First  Day:  Amos  7:1-3.    Vision  of  Locusts. 
Part  VI.     A  Series  of  Visions.     7:1-9:10. 
Note  here  a  change  of  method  from  sermons  to  visions. 

Locusts  were  like  our  grasshoppers. 

Locusts,  V.  I :  "  They  are  perhaps  the  most  terrible  of 
all  the  scourges  of  Bible  lands.  Their  swarms  fill  the 
air,  darkening  the  sky,  and*  the  noise  of  their  wings  re- 
sembles the  pattering  of  heavy  rain.  They  fly  with  great 
rapidity,  and  toward  nightfall  they  light  wherever  they 
may  happen  to  be ;  and  such  are  their  numbers  that  they 
often  break  the  branches  of  the  trees  to  which  they 
cling."     See  Joel  2:4-11. 

What  is  the  meaning  of  the  "  latter  growth,"  "  king's 
mowings  "  ? 


Note    the    arrangement    here    and    in    the    following 
vision :  The  vision,  the  prophet's  plea,  Jehovah  repents. 
What  was  his  plea? 


At  the  prayer  of  this  prophet  of  destruction  the  de- 
struction is  turned  aside.  This  would  win  the  confidence 
of  his  hearers.    Remember  Amos  was  a  stranger  to  them. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       23 


FOURTH   WEEK.    VISIONS. 


Second  Day:  Amos  7:4-6.     Vision  of  Fire. 
What  is  the  figure  here?     Cf.  Isa.  66:15,  16. 

What  was  the  prophet's  plea  for  Judah  ? 


How  would  the  people  regard  Amos  after  his  success- 
ful intercession  to  Jehovah  for  them? 


God  revealed  Himself  to  the  prophets,  vs.  i,  4. 


How  the  prophets  delivered  their  message :  "  God 
having  of  old  time  spoken  unto  the  fathers  in  the  proph- 
ets hy  divers  portions  and  in  divers  manners^  Heb. 
I  :i. 

1.  Orally:  Amos  7:12,  13.  Jer.  36:32.  Elisha  had 
music  played,  2  Kings  3:15,  16. 

2.  In  Poetry  :  Hab.  ch.  3.    Jonah  ch.  2.    Amos  5  :2. 

3.  By  Symbolic  Action  :  Isa.  20 :2,  3.  Ezek.  4 :4.  i 
Kings  11:30,  31. 


24       The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


FOURTH   WEEK.    VISIONS. 


Third   Day:  Amos   7:7-9.    Vision    of   the    Plumb- 
line. 

Explain  the  meaning  of  these  verses. 


"  I  will  rise  against  the  house  of  Jeroboam  with  the 
sword,"  was  a  prophecy  that  the  King  himself  was  not 
to  be  exempt  from  the  divine  anger. 


Message  for  To-day  :  "  I  will  not  again  pass  by  them 
any  more,"  v.  8.  "  I  zvill  pass  over  you,"  Ex.  12:13.  We 
are  at  liberty  to  take  our  places  in  either  of  these  two 
classes.  We  may  make  such  a  choice  now  that  God  will 
come  upon  us  with  destruction,  or  we  may  so  choose 
that  as  sinners  are  being  destroyed  we  shall  be  saved. 
The  blood  entitled  the  Hebrews  to  protection ;  the  blood 
is  efficient  to-day.     Memorize  Ex.  12:13. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       25 


FOURTH   WEEK.    VISIONS. 


Fourth  Day:  Amos  7:10-17.     Controversy. 
What  aroused  the  anger  of  Amaziah? 


"  Divine  truth  is  challenged  by  human  law,  and  the 
word  of  God  silenced  in  the  name  of  the  King." 
What  did  Amaziah  tell  the  King? 


What  did  Amaziah  tell  Amos? 


On  Bethel  v.  10,  see  Gen.  28:10-19. 
What  does  he  mean  by  "Go  unto  the  land  of  Judah 
and  there  eat  bread  "  ?     V.  12. 


What  reasons  does  Amaziah  give  for  his  command  to 
Amos? 


What,  in  substance,  was  Amos'  answer?    Vs.  14,  15. 
Cf.  3:8.     I  Cor.  9:16. 


His  reply  has  been  called  "  The  Charter  of  a  Spiritual 
Religion." 

Which  was  right,  Amaziah  or  Amos?     Why? 


Message  for  To-day:  "Would  God  that  all  Jeho- 
vah's people  zvere  prophets."  Numb.  11:29.  What  a 
change  there  would  be  if  everyone  of  us  was  a  prophet 
in  this  sense — one  who  tells  about  God,  one  who  speaks 
for  God !  This  was  what  Jesus  wanted  His  disciples  to 
be  when  He  said :  "  Ye  shall  be  My  witnesses."  Acts  i  :8. 
Compare  these  two  verses  and  see  how  much  alike  they 
are. 


i6       The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


FOURTH   WEEK.    VISIONS. 


Fifth  Day:  Amos  8:13.    Vision  of  Summer  Fruit. 
What  is  the  vision  here? 


What  condition  of  the  people  is  symbolized  by  this 
vision  ? 


See  a  somewhat  similar  vision  seen  by  Jeremiah.  Jer, 
24:1-3. 

This  and  the  next  vision  are  each  followed  by  an 
address  founded  on  the  vision. 

Prayer  :  "  O  God,  so  fill  us  with  Thy  grace  and 
enlist  us  in  Thy  work,  so  manifest  the  might  of  Thy 
word  to  us,  that  the  ideal  of  Thy  perfect  Kingdom  may 
shine  as  bright  and  near  to  us  as  to  Thy  prophet  of  old, 
and  that  we  may  become  its  inspired  preachers  and  ever 
labor  in  its  hope.     Amen." 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       27 


FOURTH   WEEK.    VISIONS. 


Sixth  Day:  Amos  8:4-14.     Destruction  is  Coming. 
What  sins  are  enumerated  in  vs.  4-6? 


New  moon,  v.  5.  This  came  in  the  first  of  the  month 
and  had  been  a  hoHday  from  the  earhest  times  (i  Sam. 
20:5,  2  Kings  4:23).  A  holiday  was  unwelcome  to  the 
greedy  merchants. 

What  was  to  be  their  punishment?     Vs.  11-13. 


Sackcloth,  v.  10.  A  rough  cloth,  worn  sometimes 
under,  sometimes  over  other  clothes.  A  sign  of  mourn- 
ing.    Cf.  Isa.  3:24;  Jonah  3:8;  Luke  10:13. 

Message  for  To-day:  They  had  silenced  the  proph- 
ets (7:12)  and  the  time  would  come  when  there  would 
be  a  spiritual  famine;  like  men  dying  of  hunger  and 
thirst  they  would  ransack  the  whole  country  to  find 
God's  words.  The  authorities  silenced  Jesus  (Luke 
23:9)-  O,  that  we  might  always  be  careful  not  to  silence 
God's  word  from  whatever  source  it  comes  to  us !  Per- 
haps in  these  studies  God  has  been  speaking  His  word 
once  more  to  me ;  let  me  listen  to  it.  To  silence  it  might 
bring  a  famine  into  my  soul. 


28       iThe  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


FOURTH   WEEK.    VISIONS. 


Seventh  Day:  Amos  Chs.  7  and  8. 

What  visions  had  he  seen   and  what  was  the  meaning 
of  each? 
I. 


2. 


5. 


Some  dates  to  be  remembered: 

Division  of  the  kingdom  into  Israel  and  Judah,  937 
B.C. ;  I  Kings  12. 

Capture  of  Samaria  and  disappearance  of  Israel  (Ten 
Tribes),  722  b.c.  ;  2  Kings  17:1-6. 

Captivity  of  Judah  in  Babylon,  586  B.C. ;  2  Kings 
25:1-6. 

First  return  from  Babylonian  captivity  under  Zerub- 
babel,  537  b.c.  ;  Ezra  i  :i,  2. 

Second  return  under  Ezra,  440  B.C.;  Ezra  T.2'j,  28; 
8:15-36. 


Read  Ps.  79. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       29 


FIFTH  WEEK.    DOOM  AND  REDEMPTION. 


First  Day  :  Amos  9  :i-6.    The  Broken  Altar. 
What  is  the  figure  here?    V.  i. 


God  promises  them  destruction.  Notice  how  thorough 
it  is  to  be,  "  unto  Sheol,"  v.  2  ;  "  up  into  heaven,"  v.  2  ;  "  in 
the  top  of  Carniel,"  v.  3  ;  "  in  the  bottom  of  the  sea,"  v.  3  ; 
"  into  captivity,"  v.  4.  Into  the  lowest  or  highest  part  of 
the  spirit  world,  to  the  top  of  the  mountain  or  the  bottom 
of  the  sea  in  this  world,  even  if  they  leave  home  and  flee, 
everywhere,  anywhere,  God's  will  follows  them. 

Who  is  to  do  this  ?     V.  5. 


Message  for  To-day  : 

"  If  I  ascend  up  into  heaven,  Thou  are  there : 

If  I  make  my  bed  in  Sheol,  behold,  Thou  art  there. 

If  I  take  the  wings  of  the  morning, 

And  dwell  in  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  sea ; 

Even  there  shall  Thy  hand  lead  me. 

And  Thy  right  hand  shall  hold  me." 


Read  Ps.  139. 


3©       The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


FIFTH  WEEK.   DOOM  AND  REDEMPTION. 


Second  Day  :  Amos  9  -.'j-io.     Their  Punishment. 
Where  are  the  places  referred  to  in  v.  7? 


God  is  the  God  of  all  nations,  not  of  Israel  only.    Cf. 
Isa.  10:5  ff. 

What  is  the  meaning  of  the  first  clause  of  v.  7  ? 


Not  all  to  be  destroyed,  v.  8. 

Notice  the  striking  prophecy  in  v.  9:  "I  will  sift  the 
house  of  Israel  among  the  nations  .  .  .  yet  shall  not 
the  least  kernel  fall  upon  the  earth."  Tell  how  this  has 
come  true  in  the  history  of  the  Jews :  sifted  among  the 
nations,  but  never  losing  their  identity. 


In  connection  with  these  studies  we  ought  to  learn  some- 
thing about  the  previous  history  of  Israel.  Try  to  remem- 
ber the  following  outline : 

I.  The  Beginning  of  the  Chosen  Nation  as  a  Patriarchal 
Family  (Gen.  12-50).  This  was  the  beginning  of  the 
Tribes. 

II.  The  Migration  of  the  Chosen  Nation:  Out  of 
Egypt  to  Sinai;  Forty  Years  in  the  Wilderness.  (Num- 
bers.) 

III.  The  Chosen  Nation  in  its  Efforts  Toivard  a  Secular 
Government.     (Joshua,  Judges,  i  and  2  Sam.) 

IV.  The  Chosen  Nation  under  a  Secular  King,  (i  and 
2  Kings.) 

V.  The  Chosen  Nation-  Reconstructed  as  a  Jewish 
Church.     ( I  and  2  Chron.,  Ezra  and  Neh.) 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       3 1 


FIFTH  WEEK.   DOOM  AND  REDEMPTION. 


Third  Day:  Amos  9:11-15.     Promise  of  Redemption. 

This  is  Part  VII  of  the  book. 

This  kind  of  promise  often  comes  at  the  close  of  one  of 
these  old  prophecies,  cf.  Joel  3  :i8-2i ;  Hos.  14:4-8. 
What  is  the  "  tabernacle  of  David  "  ? 


What  is  the  idea  in  v.  13,  "  The  plowman  shall  overtake 
the  reaper  "  ? 


What  promise  is  given  to  the  people  of  Israel  in  vs.  14, 
15? 


Compare  Acts  15  :  14-18. 
Read  Ps.  19:1-6. 


32       The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


FIFTH  WEEK.   DOOM  AND  REDEMPTION. 


Fourth  Day:  Ps.  72.     The  Messianic  Prophecy  in 
Amos  9:11;  Acts  15:16. 

"  The  person  of  the  Messiah  does  not  appear  in  this 
prophecy,  but  there  is  the  generic  reference  to  the  house  of 
David  and  the  people  of  Israel." 

What  did  Jesus  say  about  these  old  prophets?  John 
5  :39.    Memorize  this  verse. 


The  72d  Psalm  is  a  Messianic  Psalm.  Notice  how  it 
represents  the  Messianic  King  reigning  and  bringing  the 
blessing  foretold  by  Amos. 


Make  an  outline  from  7  :i  to  the  end. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       23 


FIFTH  WEEK.   DOOM  AND  REDEMPTION. 


Fifth  Day:  The  Book  of  Amos. 

Read  the  book  through  and  see  what  you  think  of  Rev. 
G.  Campbell  Morgan's  name  for  it,  National  Account- 
ability. 

Fill  out  the  following  outline  of  the  book ; 
I. 


II. 
III. 
IV. 

V. 

VI. 

VII. 


34       The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


FIFTH  WEEK.   DOOM  AND  REDEMPTION. 


Sixth  Day:  The  Book  of  Amos. 

The  Message  of  Amos :  "  His  whole  message  consists 
in  the  common  prophetic  conviction  that  God  is  the  sole 
and  righteous  governor  of  the  world,  judging  the  people 
righteously,  and,  when  they  rebel,  dashing  them  to  pieces 
like  a  potter's  vessel." 

"  Amos  is  the  prophet  of  the  law ;  he  sees  the  divine 
processes  work  themselves  out  irrespective  of  the  moods 
and  intrigues  of  the  people,  with  which  after  all  he  is  little 
familiar.  So  each  of  his  paragraphs  moves  steadily  for- 
ward to  a  climax,  and  every  climax  is  doom — the  captivity 
of  the  people  to  Assyria.  You  can  divide  his  book  by 
these  things :  it  has  its  periods,  strophies  and  refrains. 
It  marches  like  the  hosts  of  the  Lord  of  Hosts." 


Key  thought :  Judgment  and  restoration. 
Key  word :  Punishment. 
Key  text :  Rom.  6 :2^. 


Prayer  :  "  Spirit  of  the  Living  God,  who  hast  given  us 
the  Word  of  Truth  that  we  may  grow  thereby,  teach  us 
how  to  use  it  wisely  for  our  soul's  health.  We  thank  Thee 
for  prophets  and  holy  men  of  old  who  foretold  the  glory 
of  Christ.  Give  us  thine  aid  that  we  may  read  with  rev- 
erence and  love.  Make  Thy  warnings  clear  and  Thy  truth 
effectual  for  our  growth  in  knowledge  and  holiness. 
Amen." 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       3S 


FIFTH    WEEK.     DOOM   AND   REDEMPTION. 


Seventh  Day:  Some  Teachings  of  Amos. 

What  does  he  teach  about  God  as  governor  and  ruler 
of  the  world?    4:6,  7,  13;  5:9;  9:5. 


What  does  he  say  about  the  captivity  of  the  people? 
4:2;  5:27;  6:7;  7:17. 


What    does   he    say   about    sin   and    its   punishment? 
1:3,  6,  9;  2:13;  3:14;  4:12;  8:7;  9:8. 


What  use  does  he  make  of  the  Old  Testament  history  ? 
2:10;  3:1;  5:25;  9  7- 


Write  down  any  texts  which  show  that  Rom.  6:23  is 
a  good  key  text. 

Remember  as  you  study  these  lessons  that  the  god 
and  the  land  were  intimately  associated  in  the  minds  of 
the  people  in  the  time  we  are  studying  about.  Each 
nation  had  its  own  land  and  its  own  god.  See  a  striking 
illustration  of  this  in  2  Kings  17:24-41,  when  the  new 
settlers  brought  their  own  gods  with  them,  and  when 
they  failed  in  this  new  land  they  sent  for  a  priest  to 
instruct  them  in  the  religion  of  the  god  of  the  land.  So 
it  comes  out  again  and  again  that  the  Jehovah  is  the 
God  of  the  land;  He  sends  the  rain  or  withholds  it;  He 
multiplies  the  flocks.  See  Amos  9:13,  14;  Joel  3:18. 
This  is  one  reason  why  exile  from  the  land  was  such  a 
heavy  penalty — it  was  separation  from  their  God.  Ps. 
137:4. 


36        The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


SIXTH   WEEK.     SIN,    LOVE,    HOPE. 


First  Day:  Hosea  1:1.     Title. 

The  Book  of  Hosea  is  divided  into  two  principal  parts : 
I.     Introduction.     His    family    life.     Chs.    1-3. 

II.  The  prophecy  founded  on  his  life's  experience. 
Chs.  4-14. 

In  V.  I  we  have  the  title  of  the  book. 

Against  which  kingdom  does  he  prophesy  ?  i  :3,  5 ; 
4:15. 


What  does  his  name  mean? 


Of  which  kingdom  was  he  a  native? 


Someone  has  said  that  of  all  the  prophets  he  was 
the  most  spiritual.  Keep  this  thought  in  mind  as  you 
study  this  book. 

George  Adam  Smith  calls  him  the  "  First  prophet  of 
grace,  Israel's  earliest  evangelist."  "  This  Arthur  of 
Israel." 


He  dates  his  book  by  four  kings  of  Judah  and  one 
king  of  Israel.  Read  2  Kings  14:21  et  seq.,  for  the  his- 
torical setting  of  the  book.     What  was  the  date? 

"  The  period  covered  by  the  prophesying  of  Hosea 
was  undoubtedly  the  darkest  in  the  whole  history  of  the 
kingdom  of  Israel."     Cf.  4:1,  2. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       37 


SIXTH    WEEK.     SIN,    LOVE,    HOPE. 


Second  Day:  Hosea  1:2-11.     His  Family  Life 
What  did  this  command  mean?     V.  2. 


At  the  first,  v.  2.  He  is  looking  back  as  he  writes. 
Notice  what  a  strong  figure  is  used  to  denote  turning 
away  from  God.  Can  it  be  that  God  looks  upon  dis- 
loyalty to  Him  as  we  look  upon  the  disloyal  wife ! 

Some  suppose  that  the  name  Loruhamah  means  "  that 
never  knew  a  father's  love,"  i.e.,  born  through  her 
mother's  adultery. 

This  is  Hosea's  personal  life,  given  to  him  as  a  sym- 
bol. God  spoke  to  Hosea  through  his  home  life. 
Maybe  He  is  speaking  to  you  in  some  such  unexpected 
way. 

What  do  the  names  given  to  the  children  mean?  Cf. 
I  :y  with  Zech.  4 :6. 


Sanders  and  Kent  call  them  "  Living  Sermons  " ;  in 
what  way  is  this  true? 

Notice  the  seven  "  shalls  "  of  vs.  10,  11.  God's  asser- 
tion of  what  He  will  do. 


38        The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


SIXTH   WEEK.     SIN,    LOVE,    HOPE. 


Third  Day:  Hosea  2:1-7.    Conduct  of  the  Faithless 

Wife. 

"  The  awful  anger  of  wounded  love."     Vs.  3,  4. 


The  guilty  wife  is  described  as  no  wife. 
Taking  the  passage  as   symbolical   of   God's   dealing 
with  Israel,  who  represents  God,  who  represents  Israel? 


How  had  Israel  been  to  Jehovah  as  Gomer  to  Hosea? 


V.  5,  gives  us  an  illustration  of  what  Baal  worship 
was.  It  was  this  worship  to  which  the  people  turned 
that  was  in  part  the  occasion  for  the  rise  of  the  proph- 
ets. "  It  was  a  religion  in  every  way  adapted  to  an  agri- 
cultural or  pastoral  life ;  but  from  the  prominence  it 
gave  to  the  male  and  female  elements  in  its  conception 
of  deity,  it  easily  led  the  way  to  the  grossest  type  of 
sexual  impurity." 

"  Had  he  loved  this  woman,  cherished  and  honored 
her,  borne  with  and  forgiven  her,  only  to  find  at  last 
his  love  spurned  and  hers  turned  to  sinful  use ;  so  also 
had  the  love  of  God  been  treated  by  His  chosen  people, 
and  they  had  fallen  to  the  loose  worship  of  idols." 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       39 


SIXTH   WEEK.     SIN,    LOVE,    HOPE. 


Fourth  Day:  Hosea  2:8-13.     The  Husband's 
Compulsion. 

Baalim,  v.  13,  plural  of  Baal,  a  deity  of  the  Canaan- 
ites.  Various  places  had  Baalim,  who  were  supposed  to 
fertilize  the  soil.  "  The  male  god  of  any  community 
was  its  Baal  (lord  or  owner)  ;  the  corresponding  female 
divinity  was  Ashtaroth.  The  one  was  often  identified 
with  the  sun,  the  other  with  the  moon." 

Decked  herself  with  her  nose  ring,  v.  13.  Cf.  Gen. 
24:47. 

What  reason  does  Hosea  give  here  for  her  behavior? 


What  does  he  say  he  will  do? 


Over  what  does  Hosea  say  Jehovah  is  God  in  vs.  8, 
9,  12? 


40       The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


SIXTH   WEEK.     SIN,    LOVE,    HOPE. 


Fifth  Day:  Hosea  2:14-23.     Brighter  Days  are 
Coming. 

What  is  the  meaning  of  v.  14? 


Note  the  marginal  reading,  "  Speak  to  her  heart" ;  a 
heart-to-heart  talk. 

"A  door  of  Hope,"  v.  15.  This  has  been  used  as  the 
name  of  a  rescue  mission  for  fallen  women. 

What  will  be  the  result  to  her?    V.  15. 


On  V.  16,  see  John  15:15. 

Note  the  change  in  the  names.     V.  23. 

A  new  covenant,  v.  19.     What  was  it? 


Read  Ps.  32. 

Message  for  To-day:  'T  will  bring  her  into  the  wil- 
derness and  speak  comfortably  unto  her,"  v.  14.  God's 
presence  in  loneliness.  Cf.  Matt.  14:23.  We  need  to 
get  alone  with  God  if  we  would  hear  His  voice.  He 
wants  us  sometimes  to  go  into  the  secret  place  where  we 
can  be  alone  with  Him.  There  is  one  thing  that  will 
prevent  this  blessed  communion — sin;  He  is  of  purer 
eyes  than  to  look  upon  iniquity.     Cf.  Hab.  i  :i3. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       41 


SIXTH   WEEK.     SIN,    LOVE,    HOPE. 


Sixth  Day:  Hosea  3:1-5.     His  Later  Family  Life. 

Hosea  is  commanded  to  go  after  his  wife  Gomer,  v.  i. 

He  brings  her  back,  when  her  new  lover,  tired  of 
her,  sells  her  as  a  slave,  v.  2. 

It  may  be  that  he  bought  her  at  a  sacrifice,  for  he 
gave  not  only  money,  but  some  goods,  v.  2. 

She  should  be  with  him,  but  not  his  wife,  v.  3. 

How  does  he  apply  this  to  Israel,  vs.  4,  5  ? 


Someone  has  said  that  Hosea's  theology  is  a  theology 
of  the  heart  more  than  the  head.     Cf.  3:1;  11:4,  8. 

Pillar,  V.  4.  A  sacred  monument  showing  the  pres- 
ence of  Jehovah. 

Ephod,  V.  4.     Cf.  Ex.  28:6-14. 

Terapliiin,  v.  4.     Cf.  Judges,  chs.  17  and  18. 

What  does  the  absence  of  these  things  indicate? 


"  To  sit  alone  in  the  ruins  of  her  life ;  to  wail  away 
her  days  in  solitude ;  to  brood  over  bitter  memories 
beside  the  hearthstone  on  which  she  had  kindled  the 
fires  of  hell.  Safe,  yet — oh,  how  wretched — bearing 
the  punishment  of  her  fall  in  the  outer  darkness  of  a 
wasted  and  a  shipwrecked  life ;  .  .  .  because  he  loved 
her,  he  could  still  believe  in  a  day  of  penitence;  believe 
with  trembling  hope  that  she  could  yet  be  cleansed,  and 
restored,  and  saved." 


42       The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


SIXTH   WEEK.     SIN,    LOVE,    HOPE. 


Seventh  Day:  Hosea  Chs.   1-3.     Hosea,  His  Wife 
AND  Children. 

Read  these  chapters  through  and  try  to  realize  the 
experience  through  which  God  caused  His  servant  Hosea 
to  pass,  to  quahfy  himself  to  speak  to  the  people. 

It  has  been  suggested  that  the  sections  of  these  chap- 
ters have  become  displaced.  Read  them  in  the  following 
order,  i :  1-9 ;  3  : 1-5  ;  2 :2-23  ;  i  :  10-2 :  i . 

He  is  commanded  to  marry  and  does  so;  his  wife 
proves  false — she  plays  the  harlot ;  he  buys  her  back 
when  she  is  to  be  sold  into  slavery ;  he  continues  to  care 
for  her,  but  not  as  his  wife. 

What  expressions  in  these  chapters  symbolize  God's 
great  love  for  His  people? 


"  Out  of  his  own  heart  agony  Hosea  learned  the 
nature  of  the  sin  of  the  people.  They  were  playing  the 
harlot,  spending  God's  gifts  in  lewd  traffic  with  other 
lovers.  Out  of  that  agony  he  has  learned  how  God  suf- 
fers over  the  sin  of  His  people  becau.se  of  His  undying 
love.  .  .  .  Thus  equipped,  he  delivers  his  messages, 
and  all  through  them  will  sound  those  deep  notes  of 
SIN,  LOVE,  HOPE." 

Read  Tennyson's  "  Guinevere." 

Prayer  :  "  O  Merciful  God,  full  of  compassion,  long- 
suffering,  and  of  great  pity,  make  me  earnestly  repent, 
and  heartily  to  be  sorry  for  all  my  misdoings ;  make  the 
remembrance  of  them  so  burdensome  and  painful  that 
I  may  flee  to  Thee  with  a  troubled  spirit  and  a  contrite 
heart ;  and,  O  Merciful  Lord,  visit,  comfort,  relieve  me. 
Amen," 

Memorize  i  John  4:10. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       43 


SEVENTH    WEEK.     CHARGE    AGAINST    THE 
PEOPLE. 


First  Day:  Hosea  4:1-7:7.     Moral  Condition  of  the 
People, 

What  people  was  the  prophet  speaking  about  ? 


The  prophecy,  to  which  we  have  now  had  the  introduc- 
tion (chs.  1-3),  begins  here. 


The  general  subject  of  the  prophecy  (4:1-14:9)  is  "  A 
people  in  decay,"  and  the  prophet  discusses  first  their 
moral  condition  (4:1-7  :y). 

Read  rapidly  to  7  :y  with  this  in  mind. 


"  So  Arthur  passed  from  Guinevere  to  his  last  battle  for 
his  land : 

"  '  Lo,  I  forgive  thee,  as  Eternal  God 
Forgives :  Do  thou  for  thine  own  soul  the  rest. 

I  cannot  touch  thy  lips,  they  are  not  mine, 

But  Lancelot's :  nay  they  never  were  the  King's. 

I  cannot  take  thy  hand  ;  that  too  is  flesh, 

And  in  the  flesh  thou  hast  sinned  ;  and  mine  own  flesh, 

Here  looking  down  on  thine  polluted,  cries 

"  I  loathe  thee  " :  yet  not  less,  O  Guinevere, 

For  I  was  ever  virgin  save  for  thee, 

My  love  through  flesh  hath  wrought  into  my  life 

So  far,  that  my  doom  is,  I  love  thee  still. 

Let  no  man  dream  but  that  I  love  thee  still.' " 


44       The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


SEVENTH    WEEK.      CHARGE    AGAINST    THE 
PEOPLE. 


Second  Day:  Hosea  4:1-5.     Israel's  Condition  and 
Punishment. 

What  is  the  charge  brought  against  them  ?     Vs.  i,  2. 
What  sins  of  omission  ? 
What  sins  of  commission  ? 


Compare  vs.  i  and  2  with  Matt.  5 :22,  28,  and  think 
whether  you  are  guiltless. 

What  is  to  be  the  result?    V.  3. 


What  does  he  mean  by  including  beasts  of  the  field, 
the  birds  and  fishes? 


Whose  fault  was  it  that  they  were  in  this  condition  ? 
What  is  the  meaning  of  vs.  4,  5  ? 


Read  Ps.  15. 

Read  again  2  Kings  14:21  cf  seq.  the  accounts  of  the 
reigns  of  Uzziah,  Jotham,  Ahaz,  and  Hezekiah,  and  get 
a  general  idea  of  the  condition  of  the  people  at  this  time. 

The  original  title  of  the  book  probably  contained  only 
the  words  "  In  the  days  of  Jeroboam,"  which  apply  to 
chs.  1-3 ;  the  names  of  the  other  kings  were  added  to  fix 
the  date  of  the  events  in  chs.  4-14. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       45 


SEVENTH    WEEK.      CHARGE    AGAINST    THE 
PEOPLE. 


Third    Day:    Hosea    4:6-10.     The    Priests    Are    to 

Blame. 

Who  does  he  say  here  was  to  blame  for  this  condition  ? 
How  did  there  happen  to  be  a  lack  of  knowledge  ? 


There  is  a  need  of  some  religious  basis  for  conduct. 
What  was  the  duty  of  the  priests  ? 


The  people  will  be  what  their  leaders  are,  v.  9. 
What  kind  of  a  God  is  described  in  vs.  6,  9?     Cf.  5  :6, 
I4;8:i3;9:i5,i7;  13:8,  15. 


Prayer  :  "  Give  me,  O  Lord,  purity  of  lips,  a  dean  and 
innocent  heart,  humility,  fortitude,  patience.  Give  me 
the  Spirit  of  wisdom  and  understanding,  the  Spirit  of 
counsel  and  strength,  the  Spirit  of  knowledge  and 
godliness,  and  of  Thy  fear.  Make  me  ever  to  seek  Thy 
face  with  all  my  heart,  all  my  soul,  all  my  mind ;  grant 
me  to  have  a  contrite  and  humble  heart  in  Thy  presence. 
Amen." 


46       The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


SEVENTH    WEEK.     CHARGE    AGAINST    THE 
PEOPLE. 


Fourth  Day:  Hosea  4:11-14.     Gross  Immorality. 

Staff  V.  12.     Probably  the  diviner's  wand,  cf.  Ezek. 
21  :2i. 

What  condition  of  the  people  is  described  here  ? 


Vs.  6-10  referred  to  the  condition  of  the  priests,  the 
spiritual  leaders ;  these  words  refer  to  the  people  and  are 
an  expansion  of  v.  9. 

What  was  their  sin?  Note  that  this  was  a  root  sin. 
Cf.  II  :i ;  13:1  et  seq. 


Paraphrase  of  vs.  1 1-15  : 

"  Immorality  and  intemperance  always  dim  the  intellect, 
as  is  clearly  illustrated  by  the  way  in  which  this  people 
instead  of  seeking  Jehovah,  consult  the  inanimate  symbols 
of  the  Baal  cult.  That  corrupt  religion,  which  gives  free 
license  to  the  passions,  had  led  them  far  astray  from  the 
true  God.  In  connection  with  the  rites  of  Baal  the  men 
have  committed  abominable  excesses.  In  the  light  of  such 
an  example  Jehovah  cannot  hold  their  daughters  culpable, 
even  though  they  have  shamelessly  bartered  their  chastity. 
Thus  this  stupid  people  are  rapidly  rushing  on  to  their 
ruin." 

Read  Ps.  51. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       47 


SEVENTH    WEEK.     CHARGE    AGAINST    THE 
PEOPLE. 


Fifth  Day  :  Hosea  4:15-19.     Israel  cannot  be  Saved. 
Who  is  referred  to  by  Ephraim  (v.  17)  and  why? 


What  does   Hosea  mean  by  "Ephraim  is  joined  to 
idols"? 


What  by,   "  The  zvind  hath  wrapped  her  up   in   its 
wings  "  ?    Cf .  8  '.y. 


Message  for  To-day  :  "  Let  him  alone,"  v.  17.  "  To  suf- 
fer the  pain  of  eternal  loneHness.  .  .  .  It  is  against 
the  instinct  of  humanity  to  be  left  alone.  The  little  child 
calls  out  in  terror  as  soon  as  it  begins  to  have  some  sense 
of  being  left  alone.  The  worst  form  of  punishment  that 
is  known  to  penology  is  the  solitary  cell,  the  shutting  up 
of  a  man  alone."  It  was  the  man  who  was  not  in  his  right 
mind  who  cried  out  to  Jesus,  "  Let  us  alone." 


48        The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


SEVENTH    WEEK.     CHARGE    AGAINST    THE 
PEOPLE. 


Sixth  Day:  Hosea  4:1-19.    The  Condition  of  God's 
Own  People. 

What  would  you  say  was  the  condition  of  the  people  to 
whom  Hosea  delivered  his  message  ? 


What  charge  does  he  bring  against  them  ? 


Does  the  history  in  Kings  sustain  Hosea's  charge  ? 


"  King  succeeded  king  and  dynasty  dynasty  with  horri- 
ble rapidity.  As  in  the  days  of  the  Barrack-Emperors  of 
falling  Rome,  the  purple  was  a  sure  mark  for  the  dagger- 
thrust,  and  blood  touched  blood  on  the  slippery  footsteps 
of  the  throne.  Universal  confusion  followed.  There  was 
no  truth,  nor  mercy,  nor  knowledge  of  God  in  the  land ; 
there  was  nothing  but  swearing,  and  lying,  and  killing, 
and  stealing,  and  committing  adultery,  which  called  for  an 
immediate  and  ravaging  retribution." 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       49 


SEVENTH    WEEK.     CHARGE    AGAINST    THE 
PEOPLE. 


Seventh  Day  :  Gen.  32 :22-32, 


Referring  back  to  the  study  for  the  fifth  week,  second 
day,  go  over  the  outHne  of  the  history  of  the  people  of 
Israel,  and  under  /.  The  Beginning  of  the  Chosen  Nation 
as  a  Patriarchal  Family,  fix  in  mind  a  few  of  the  out- 
standing events  of  the  book  of  Genesis.  (Remember  as 
you  study  these  Old  Testament  books,  the  words  of  Jesus 
in  John  5:39,  "  These  are  they  that  testify  of  Me.") 

I.  The  beginning  of  things,  chs.  i-ii.  Make  a  list  of 
the  beginnings  mentioned  in  these  chapters. 


2.  Abraham,  ch.  12. 

3.  Isaac,  ch.  21. 

4.  Esau  and  Jacob,  ch.  25. 

5.  Isaac  and  Jacob,  chs.  2y,  28. 

6.  Jacob  and  his  sons,  ch.  35. 

7.  In  Egypt,  ch.  46. 


50       The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


EIGHTH  WEEK.     CORRUPTION  OF  LEADERS. 


First   Day:    Hosea    5:1-7.     Priests   and   King 
Rebuked. 


Chapter  5  tells  of  the  corruption  of  the  leaders — ^the 
King  and  the  priests. 

Who  is  addressed  in  this  section? 


Why  does  he  name  Mizpah  and  Tabor? 


"  Their  doings  will  not  suffer  them  to  turn  unto  their 
God,"  V.  4.  Sin  keeps  men  from  God  now  just  as  much 
as  it  did  then.  Evil  deeds  forge  a  chain  which  binds  us 
and  makes  us  helpless. 

Cf.  vs.  4-7  with  Isa.  59:2. 

"  Ephraim  shall  stumble,"  v.  5.  There  is  one  who 
can  save  us  from  stumbling,  Jude  24.  Memorize  this 
verse. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       51 


EIGHTH  WEEK.     CORRUPTION  OF  LEADERS. 


Second  Day:  Hosea  5:8-15.    Sound  the  Alarm. 
Where  were  Ramah.   Gibeah,  and   Beth-aven? 

What  is  the  figure  here? 

Why  does  he  speak  of  Benjamin?     V.  8. 
What  does  "Behind  thee,  O  Benjamin,"  mean? 


Landmark,   v.    10.     The   landmarks   were   under   the 
protection  of  rehgion.     Deut.   19:14;  27:17. 
What  is  the  sin  described  in  v.  10? 


What  was  the  sin  described  in  v.  11? 

Write  out  in  your  own  words  the  meaning  of  v.  12? 

What  does  God  say  he  will  do  in  v.  15? 


Message  for  To-day:  v.  13:  "So  Ephraim  and 
Judah  went  to  the  wrong  person,  and  did  not  gain  much 
by  their  application.  The  same  fatal  error  is  being  per- 
petrated by  multitudes  among  us  still.  The  error  is  as 
ancient  as  Cain  and  as  modern  as  to-day." 


52        The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


EIGHTH  WEEK.     CORRUPTION  OF  LEADERS. 


Third  Day:  Hosea  6:1-3.     "Let  Us  Return." 

The  words  of  Israel  as  they  think  over  the  words  of 
V.  14. 

Write  out  in  your  own  words  what  they  say. 


Compare  with  Luke  15:18. 

Sin  is  sickness.     Cf.  Jer.  17:9  in  the  Authorized  Ver- 
sion and  Revised  Version. 


Learn  the  Books  of  the  Old  Testament  in  order : 


Historical,  17. 

Poetical,  5. 

Prophetical 

.,  17. 

Genesis. 

Job. 

Major,  5. 

Minor,  12. 

Exodus. 

Psalms. 

Isaiah. 

Hosea. 

Leviticus. 

Proverbs. 

Jeremiah. 

Joel. 

Numbers. 

Ecclesiastes. 

Lamentations. 

Amos. 

Deuteronomy. 

Song  of  Solomon. 

Ezekiel. 

Obadiah. 

Joshua. 

Daniel. 

Jonah. 

Judges. 

Micah. 

Ruth. 

Nahum. 

I  and  2  Samuel. 

Habakkuk 

I  and  2  Kings. 

Zephaniah 

I  and  2  Chronicles. 

Haggai. 

Ezra 

Zechariah. 

Nehemiah. 

Malachi. 

Esther. 

The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets        53 


EIGHTH  WEEK.     CORRUPTION  OF  LEADERS. 


Fourth  Day:  Hosea  6:4-11.     What  God  Wants. 

What  does  v.   i   tell  us  about  God's  anxiety  for  his 
own? 


Where  was  Shechem?     V.  9. 

What   was   the   trouble   with   their   good   intentions? 
V.  4. 


What  is  it  God  looks  for?     V.  6. 


What  is  the  difference  between  goodness  and  sacri- 
fice?    V.  6. 


Notice  here  the  awful  condition  of  the  people  when 
the  priests  themselves,  the  religious  leaders,  committed 
murder.     V.  9. 


Message  for  To-day:  How  true  it  is  that  our 
"  goodness  is  as  a  morning  cloud !  "  v.  4.  We  receive 
spiritual  impressions  and  decide  to  lead  a  Christian  life, 
but  fear  of  opposition,  evil  associates,  sinful  habits,  all 
these  dissipate  the  impressions  as  the  sun  dries  up  the 
morning  cloud. 


54       The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


EIGHTH  WEEK.    CORRUPTION  OF  LEADERS. 


Fifth    Day:    Hosea    7:1-7.    Those    Who    Should 
Help  Only  Hinder. 

Who  is  it  that  is  guilty  of  the  wickedness  described 
here? 


On  the  day  of  our  king,  v.  5.     Either  his  coronation 
day  or  birthday. 

What  were  their  sins  ? 


Give  the  sense  of  v.  4? 


All  their  kings  are  fallen,  v.  7.  Four  regicides  are 
recorded  within  forty  years.     2  Kings   15. 

Message  for  To-day  :  "  They  consider  not  in  their 
hearts  that  I  remember  all  their  wickedness,"  v.  2.  God 
remembers  sin !  He  remembers  all  kinds  of  sin,  open 
and  secret,  great  and  small.  God  remembers  sin !  And 
men  forget  this.  "  They  consider  not  in  their  hearts." 
It  does  seem  as  if  men  would  not  sin  if  they  only  re- 
membered that  God  remembers. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       ^^ 


EIGHTH  WEEK.     CORRUPTION  OF  LEADERS. 


Sixth  Day  :  Hosea  4  :i-y  7.    A  People  in  Decay. 

Read  this  section  through  rapidly,  noting  the  following 
outline : 


Morally,  4:1-7:7. 

a.  God's  charge  against  His  people,  ch.  4. 

b.  Corruption  of  the  leaders,  ch.  5. 

c.  The  condition  of  affairs,  6  :i-7  -.y. 


Familiarize  yourself  with  the  geography  of  the  land  as 
divided  among  the  nations  during  the  times  of  the  Minor 
Prophets.  Study  the  map  and  locate  Israel,  Judah,  Baby- 
lon, Nineveh.  Referring  to  Palestine,  one  writer  says : 
"  It  is  almost  an  epitome  of  the  ancient  world,  when  the 
ocean  and  the  desert,  the  pastures  of  the  wilderness  and 
the  terraced  vineyards  of  the  sunny  hills,  the  cedars,  fir- 
trees,  and  rhododendrons  of  Lebanon,  the  cornfields  of 
Jezreel,  and  the  oak-clad  glades  of  Tabor,  the  shores  of 
the  lake  of  Galilee  bright  with  shrubbery  of  oleander,  the 
hot  canebrakes  and  palm-groves  of  Jericho,  represent  in 
brief  compass  almost  every  variety  of  material  condition 
which  enters  into  the  development  of  Eastern  antiquity." 


56       The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


EIGHTH  WEEK.     CORRUPTION  OF  LEADERS. 


Seventh  Day  : 

Read  Ps.  78:12-33. 

Turn  back  again  to  the  study  for  the  fifth  week,  second 
day ;  go  over  the  outUne  once  more.  What  was  the  First 
Division? 


Fix  in  mind  to-day  some  of  the  striking  events  of  the 
Second  Division  of  the  Old  Testament  History:  The 
migration  of  the  Chosen  Nation;  out  of  Egypt  to  Sinai; 
forty  years  in  the  wilderness.     Numb.  10-36. 

Who  was  their  leader? 


How  long  was  the  distance? 

How  long  ought  the  journey  to  have  taken? 
Why  did  so  many  die  on  the  way  ? 


Prayer  :  "  Almighty  God,  Thou  who  didst  lead  Thy 
people  of  old  ;  Thou  who  didst  reward  those  who  diligently 
sought  Thee,  and  who  didst  punish  those  who  turned  away 
from  Thee,  let  me  be  ever  found  among  Thy  followers. 
O,  keep  me  close  to  Thee,  for  when  I  wander  from  Thee 
then  do  I  sin.  May  I  have  continually  the  joy  of  Thy 
presence.     Amen." 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       57 


NINTH  WEEK.     SIN,  SORROW,  EXILE. 


First  Day:  Hosea  7:8-16.     Outward  Evidences  of 
Israel's  Decay. 

The  prophet  has  been  discussing  "  A  people  in  decay," 
and  has  been  considering  their  moral  condition  (4:1- 
y.y).  He  now  takes  up  their  political  condition  (7:8- 
10:15).     Read  this  section  through  with  this  in  mind. 

What  sins  are  mentioned  here  ? 


Ephraim  is  a  cake  not  turned,  v.  8.  "  How  better  de- 
scribe a  half-fed  people,  a  half-cultured  society,  a  half- 
lived  religion,  a  half-hearted  policy,  than  by  a  half-baked 
scone !  "  How  well  this  describes  the  conditions  in  our 
great  cities. 


They  seek  help  from  foreign  nations  (11),  not  from 
God  ( 14) .  How  prone  we  are  to  turn  everywhere  for  help 
except  to  God,  until  in  great  extremity,  when  there  seems 
to  be  no  other  place  to  go,  we  go  to  Him.    Cf.  5  :i3 ;  6:2. 

Read  Ps.  100. 

Prayer  :  "  Sustain  us  through  all  the  long  day  of  this 
mortal  life,  until  the  shadows  lengthen,  and  the  evening 
comes,  and  the  busy  world  is  hushed,  and  life's  fever  is 
over.  Then,  O  Lord,  grant  us  a  safe  lodging,  a  holy  rest 
and  peace  at  last,  through  Jesus  Christ  Our  Lord.    Amen." 


58        The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


NINTH  WEEK.     SIN,  SORROW,  EXILE. 


Second  Day:   Hosea   8:1-7.      Idolatry  Will   Bring 
Sorrow. 

Here  the  prophet  accuses  them  of  setting  up  kings  and 
gods  not  known  to  him.  Have  you  ever  done  this  in 
your  Hfe? 

What  was  the  "calf  of  Samaria"? 


Notice  the  short  clauses  which  reflect  the  prophet's 
emotion  as  he  speaks. 

How  old  heathenism  is !  In  Hosea's  time  they  needed 
the  message  that  men  need  to-day :  there  is  but  one  God 
who  is  Lord  of  all.  "  My  little  children,  guard  yourselves 
from  idols,"   i  John  5:21. 

Moral  law  works  as  surely  as  natural  law :  "  Sow  the 
wind,  reap  the  whirlwind " ;  "  plow  wickedness,  reap 
iniquity,"  10:13.  Why  is  it  that  some  people  do  not  be- 
lieve this? 


"  Dear  Lord  and  Bridegroom,  I  here  vow  and  promise 
to  Thee  surely,  that  all  which  Thou  wiliest  I  also 
will.  Come  sickness,  come  health,  come  pleasure  or 
pain,  sweet  or  bitter,  cold  or  heat,  wet  or  dry,  whatever 
Thou  wiliest  that  do  I  also  will ;  and  desire  altogether 
to  come  out  from  my  own  will,  and  to  yield  a  whole 
and  willing  obedience  unto  Thee,  and  never  to  desire 
aught  else,  either  in  will  or  thought ;  only  let  Thy  will 
be  accomplished  in  me  in  time  and  eternity."  Tauler's 
Covenant,  1340  a.d. 


The  ^lessage  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       59 


NINTH  WEEK.     SIN,  SORROW,  EXILE. 


Third  Day:  Hosea  8:8-14.     Into  Captivity. 
What  is  the  meaning  of  v.  8  ? 

What  is  the  figure  in  v.  9 :  "  Like  a  wild  ass  by  him- 
self"? 


V.  II.  What  ought  to  have  been  a  means  of  grace  has 
become  an  instrument  of  sin. 

What  is  the  meaning  of  "  They  shall  return  to  Egypt  "? 
V.  13. 


What  sins  are  mentioned  in  v.  14? 


What  is  the  punishment  to  be  ?     V.  14.     Cf.  Amos  i  :4, 
7,  12  et  al.    Matt.  3:12. 


Message  for  To-day:  "  They  shall  return  to  Egypt," 
V.  13.  God  forbid  that  any  of  us  should  go  back  into  the 
condition  we  were  in  before  He  called  us  out  of  the  bond- 
age of  sin.  Abraham's  cry  for  his  own  son  was,  "  Beware 
that  thou  bring  not  my  son  thither  again,"  Gen.  24:6. 
And  is  there  not  a  warning  here  for  us  ?  Are  you  taking 
any  man's  son  back  into  sin  ? 


6o       The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


NINTH  WEEK.     SIN,  SORROW,  EXILE. 


Fourth  Day:  Hosea  9:1-9.     The  Coming  Calamity- 
Exile. 

What  is  to  happen  to  them  ?     Vs.  1-3. 


The  bread  of  mourners,  v.  4.     An  emblem  of  utter  im- 
purity. 


What  does  the  prophet  mean  by  "  They  shall  not  pour 
out  wine-offerings,"  v.  4? 


What  is  the  meaning  of  v.  5  ? 


A  day  of  reckoning  always  comes,  v.  7 ;  cf.  8  :y. 


What  were  the  days  of  Giheah,  v.  9?     Use  marginal 
references. 


The  ^lessage  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       6i 


NINTH  WEEK.     SIN,  SORROW,  EXILE. 


Fifth    Day:    Hosea    9:10-17.      God    Will    Scatter 

Them. 

God  has  clone  everything  for  Israel.  When  He  took 
them  up  they  were  like  the  poor  wilderness  grapes — of  no 
account. 

What  was  Baal-peor?     V.  I. 


What  is  the  meaning  of  "All  their  wickedness  is  in 
Gilgal"?    V.  15. 


What  great  punishment  is  predicted  in  vs.  14,  16? 


How  wonderfully  the  history  of  the  Jews  confirms  the 
prophecy  of  v.  17 — "  Wanderers  among  the  nations." 


"  Became  abominable  like  that  zvhich  they  loved,"  v.  10. 
A  man  soon  becomes  like  the  thing  he  loves. 


62       The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


NINTH  WEEK.     SIN,  SORROW,  EXILE. 


Sixth  Day  :  Hosea  7 :8-9  :iy.     Political  Decay. 

What  signs  of  political  decay  are  seen  in  the  following 
verses  ? 
7:8,9. 


7:11. 


8:4. 
8:9. 


What  was  the  real  trouble? 
7:13,16. 


8:1. 


8:12. 


9:1. 


What  is  to  be  the  result  ?    V.  17. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       6^ 


NINTH  WEEK.     SIN,  SORROW,  EXILE. 


Seventh  Day  : 
Read  Ps,  78  -.65-72. 


Looking  back  over  the  studies  for  the  fifth  week,  second 
day,  seventh  week,  seventh  day,  and  eighth  week,  seventh 
day,  what  were  the  first  two  divisions  of  the  historical 
table  ? 
L 


IL 


After  getting  into  the  promised  land  we  see  (III)  them 
in  their  effort  toward  a  secular  government : 

1.  Conquest  of  Canaan  (Joshua). 

2.  The  government  of  the  Judges  (Judges). 

3.  Establishment  of  the  Kings  (i  and  2  Samuel). 


64       The  IMessage  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TENTH  WEEK.     SOWING  AND  REAPING. 


First  Day  :  Hosea  10  :i-8.     Sin  and  Its  Reward. 
What  sin  is  described  in  vs.  1-4? 

Calves  of  Beth-aven,  v.  5  ;  cf.  8 :5. 

Their  country  is  to  be  destroyed  and  a  time  is  coming 
when  they  will  long  for  death. 

"  Their  heart  is  divided,"  v.  2.    "  Ye  cannot  serve  God 
and  mammon,"  IMatt.  6 124. 


Prayer  :  "  O  God,  who  requirest  the  hearts  of  all  Thy 
children,  deliver  us  from  all  sloth  in  Thy  work,  all  cold- 
ness in  Thy  cause ;  and  grant  that  by  looking  unto  Thee 
we  may  rekindle  our  love,  and  by  waiting  upon  Thee  may 
renew  our  strength,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 
Amen." 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       65 


TENTH  WEEK.     SOWING  AND  REAPING. 


Second  Day:  Hosea  10:9-15.    We  Reap  what  We 

Sow. 

The  days  of  Gibeah  were  how  long  before  this?  Cf. 
Judges  19:22-30. 

V.  II.  Israel  has  had  an  easy  time,  like  an  ox  treading 
out  corn  and  eating  it ;  now  she  shall  work  hard  like  an  ox 
who  has  to  plow. 

What  is  the  substance  of  vs.  12-15  ? 


This  ends  the  section  on  the  political  decay  of  the  people. 

G.  A.  Smith  says :  "  The  political  decay  of  Israel,  then, 
so  deeply  figured  in  all  these  chapters,  must  end  in  utter 
collapse.  Let  us  sum  up  the  gradual  features  of  this  de- 
cay :  the  substance  of  the  people  scattered  abroad ;  the 
national  spirit  dissipated ;  the  national  prestige  humbled ; 
the  kings  mere  puppets ;  the  prophets  corrupted ;  the  na- 
tional vigor  sapped  by  impurity ;  the  idolatry  conscious  of 
its  impotence." 


66       The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TENTH  WEEK.     SOWING  AND  REAPING. 


Third  Day:  Hosea  ii  w-y.     Ps.  103.     God's  Love. 

"  From  the  thick  jungle  of  Hosea's  travail,  the  eleventh 
chapter  breaks  like  a  high  and  open  mound." 

Jehovah  did  not  love  Israel  because  he  was  His  son, 
but  He  called  him  to  be  His  son  because  He  loved  him, 
V.  I,  John  15  :i6. 

"  God's  eyes,  that  passed  unheeding  the  adult  princes  of 
the  world,  fell  upon  this  little  slave  boy,  and  He  loved  him 
and  gave  him  a  career."     Cf.  Matt.  18:2,  3. 

What  is  referred  to  in  v.  i  ? 


Note  what  Israel  is  called  in  v.  i.     What  had  they  been 
called  in  2:20? 


Read  2  Kings  17  :I3-I7,  and  see  how  true  v.  2  is. 

Try  to  realize  the  beauty  of  v.  3.  God,  as  a  kind  father, 
trying  to  teach  the  infant  nation  to  walk  when  they  were 
too  weak  to  go  alone. 

God  is  our  Father,  cf.  Rom.  8:15;  i  John  3:1-3. 
Memorize  these  verses  in  i  John. 

God  was  a  kind  master  to  them,  v.  4. 

What  is  the  meaning  of  "  /  zvas  to  them  as  they  that 
lift  up  the  yoke  o?i  their  jaws  "  ?    V.  4. 


It  does  no  good,  vs.  5-7. 

Message  for  To-day  :  "  Bands  of  love."  "  Men  speak 
of  love  as  the  Spirit's  zving.  Yet  truly  it  is  rather  the 
Spirit's  cord.  It  keeps  me  chained  to  you.  It  refuses  to 
let  me  soar  without  you.  It  bids  me  lift  your  weight, 
your  pain.  It  holds  me  to  the  ground  where  you  are  lying. 
It  compels  me  to  bear  your  cross." 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       67 


TENTH  WEEK.     SOWING  AND  REAPING. 


Fourth  Day:  Hosea  ii:8-ii.     The  Long-suffering 

God. 

These  verses  have  been  rightly  called  "  the  greatest 
passage  in  Hosea."    Try  to  realize  their  beauty. 

"  God  will  try  once  more,"  is  the  substance  of  8-1 1. 

What  is  the  meaning  of  "  How  shall  I  make  thee  as 
Admah  ?  How  shall  I  set  thee  as  Zeboim  "  ?  Cf .  mar- 
ginal references. 


The  conversion  of  St.  Paul  is  an  illustration  of  the  truth 
stated  in  these  verses. 

What  reasons  does  God  give  for  not  giving  up  Israel  ? 


Read  Ps.  42. 

"  God's  changeless  love !     The  wandering  one 
Forsakes,  forgets,  dishonors  ;  yet, 
Repenting,  going  home,  is  met 
With  no  reproach — *  Welcome,  My  son !'  " 


68       The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TENTH  WEEK.     SOWING  AND  REAPING. 


Fifth  Day:  i  Samuel  15:1-30.     Saul. 

Referring  once  more  to  the  historical  table  in  the  study 
of  the  fifth  week,  second  day,  write  out  the  divisions. 
I. 


11. 


III. 


This  brings  us  to  the  kings.  Compare  the  historical 
table  at  the  end  of  the  book  and  remember  the  order  of 
the  first  three  kings — kings  of  the  united  kingdom — Saul, 
David,  Solomon. 

Read  the  following  for  incidents  in  Saul's  life :  i  Sam. 
9:1,  2,  21;  10:1,  24;  11:14;  13:1;  14:31-35;  16:22,  23; 
20:1 ;  28:8-19;  31:1-6. 

Why  did  Saul  fail?, 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       69 


TENTH  WEEK.     SOWING  AND  REAPING. 


Sixth  Day:  i  Samuel  16:1-13.     David. 

Try  to  fix  in  mind  to-day  a  few  of  the  leading  events  in 
the  Hfe  of  David. 

What  is  he  called  in  Acts  13:22? 

A  servant  of  Saul,  i  Sam.  16 :20-23. 

Fights  Goliath,  17:49. 

Hated  by  Saul,  19  :i8 ;  22  :i,  2. 

Spares  Saul,  24 :3,  4 ;  26 :9-i2. 

Made  king,  2  Sam.  2  :i ;  5  :i-5. 

His  sin,  11  :i-3,  15-17,  26,  27.     Ps.  32. 

Absalom  rebels,  15:1. 

Sorrow  for  Absalom,  18:31-33. 

His  death,  i  Kings  2  :i-ii. 

"  David  is  the  most  luminous  figure  and  the  most  gifted 
personage  in  Israelitish  history,  surpassed  in  ethical  great- 
ness and  general  historical  importance  only  by  Moses,  the 
man  of  God.  It  is  not  possible  to  estimate  what  David 
did  for  Israel :  Israel  as  a  people,  as  a  representative  of 
political  life,  as  a  concrete  quantity  in  the  development  of 
universal  history,  as  a  nation  in  the  fullest  sense  of  the 
word,  is  exclusively  his  work."     Cornill. 

"  Adieu  !  thou  sweet  Psalmist ;  thou  royal  prophet ;  thou 
tempted,  tried,  stricken,  erring,  yet,  in  the  main,  true- 
hearted  man  of  God ;  we  shall  know  thee  better  when  we 
meet  above.  .  .  .  Now  is  thy  wish  gratified,  now  is 
thy  prayer  answered,  for  now  beholdest  thou  the  beauty 
of  the  Lord,  and  inquirest  in  His  temple !  " 


70       The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TENTH  WEEK.     SOWING  AND  REAPING. 


Seventh  Day  :  i  Kings  4 :29-34.     Solomon, 

To-day  we  have  a  brief  outline  of  the  life  of  the  third 
great  king  of  Israel,  David's  son,  Solomon. 
King,  I  Kings  2:10. 
Marriage,  3:1. 
His  prayer,  3  :6-9. 
Treaty  with  Hiram,  5  :i-6. 
Builds  the  temple,  7:51. 
His  prayer,  8 :22-26. 
His  apostasy,  11  :i-8. 
His  death,  11  42,  43. 
What  was  the  trouble  with  Solomon  ? 


"There  is,  perhaps,  no  other  personage  of  Israelitish  his- 
tory of  whose  true  character  and  its  historical  significance 
it  is  so  difficult  to  get  a  clear  conception  and  give  a  correct 
picture  as  Solomon ;  for  what  we  know  of  him  is  scant 
and  self-contradictory.  It  is  possible  to  represent  him  as 
an  Oriental  despot  of  the  most  common  stamp  and  support 
every  trait  of  the  picture  thus  drawn  with  Bible  refer- 
ences, and  to  take  credit  into  the  bargain  for  one's  objec- 
tivity and  freedom  from  prejudice ;  but  such  a  judgment 
would  be  absolutely  unhistorical :  Solomon  cannot  have 
been  an  ordinary  and  insignificant  man — on  this  point  his- 
tory speaks  loud  and  clear." 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       71 


ELEVENTH  WEEK.    "  THE  YEARNING  GOD.' 


First    Day:    Hosea    11:12-12:6.       Israel's 
Ingratitude. 

Contrast  Israel's  feelings  toward  God  with  God's  feel- 
ing toward  them.     Hasn't  it  always  been  so  ? 


The  two  nations  are  here  referred  to:  Ephraim  and 
Judah.  The  division  took  place  about  937  B.C.  Read 
I  Kings  12:1-17.  This  is  one  of  the  great  events  in 
Hebrew  history  and  should  be  remembered.  The  North- 
ern Kingdom,  Ephraim,  more  often  called  Israel,  was 
composed  of  ten  tribes,  having  its  capital  at  Samaria ; 
the  Southern  Kingdom,  Judah,  was  composed  of  the 
two  tribes  of  Judah  and  Benjamin,  and  had  its  capital  at 
Jerusalem.  The  ten  tribes  disappeared;  Christ  came 
from  the  tribe  of  Judah. 

What  is  referred  to  in  vs.  3  and  4? 


What  is  meant  by  "  Jehovah  is  His  memorial  name  "? 

V.  5. 


72       The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


ELEVENTH  WEEK.    "  THE  YEARNING  GOD." 


Second  Day:    Hosea   12:7-14.     Blinded  by 
Prosperity. 

What  sins  are  enumerated  here? 


V.  13.  Moses   is  called  a  prophet;  this  helps  us  to 
form  an  idea  of  what  the  prophets  were. 
Cf.  V.  8  with  Luke  12:16-21. 
How  does  God  say  He  will  treat  them? 


What  is  the  meaning  of  "  Jehovah,  thy  God  from  the 
land  of  Israel  "  ?    V.  9, 


Why  is  V.  13  used?. 


Prayer  :  "  Almighty  and  most  merciful  God,  who 
hast  sent  this  book  to  be  the  revelation  of  Thy  great 
love  to  man,  and  of  Thy  power  and  will  to  save  him, 
grant  that  our  study  of  it  may  not  have  been  in  vain 
by  the  callousness  or  carelessness  of  our  hearts,  but  that 
by  it  we  may  be  confirmed  in  penitence,  lifted  in  hope, 
made  strong  for  service,  and  above  all  filled  with  the 
true  knowledge  of  Thee  and  of  Thy  Son  Jesus  Christ. 
Amen." 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       73 


ELEVENTH  WEEK.    "  THE  YEARNING  GOD." 


Third   Day:    Hosea    13:1-8.     Idolatry   and    Death. 

Final  review  of  Israel's  mistakes  and  the  consequences. 
Ch.  13. 

What  does  the  prophet  say  was  the  cause  of  Israel's 
downfall?     Vs.  1-3. 


Notice  the  beauty  of  v.  3. 

What  events  are  referred  to  in  vs.  4-6? 

What  is  the  figure  in  vs.  7  and  8? 


Israel,  the  Northern  Kingdom,  was  destroyed,  and 
the  ten  tribes,  of  which  it  was  originally  composed, 
disappeared  utterly.  "  The  problem  of  the  lost  tribes, 
which  has  so  much  attraction  for  some  speculators,  is  a 
purely  fanciful  one.  The  people  whom  Hosea  and 
Amos  describe  were  not  fitted  to  maintain  themselves 
apart  from  the  heathen  among  whom  they  dwelt.  Scat- 
tered among  strange  nations,  they  accepted  the  service 
of  strange  gods,  and,  losing  their  distinctive  religion, 
lost  also  their  distinctive  existence." 

"  It  is  obvious  that  the  wild  theories  concerning  the 
fate  of  the  *  lost  ten  tribes  of  Israel  '  are  entirely  without 
foundation,  since  they  were  never  lost." 


74       The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


ELEVENTH  WEEK.    "  THE  YEARNING  GOD." 


Fourth   Day:   Hosea    13:9-15.     "To   Whom   Shall 
We  Go?" 

He   who   might   have   been   their   greatest   helper    is 
their  worst  foe,  v.  i. 

What  is  the  meaning  of  vs.  10,  11  ? 


Cf.  V.  12  with  Gal.  6:7. 

What  use  does  Paul  make  of  v.  14? 


"  Tell  Jesus  when  the  burden  seems  too  great  for  thee 

to  bear, 
Go  lay  it  at  the  feet  of  Christ,  and  know  that  He  will 

care, 
And  tell  Him  all  the  little  things,  that  come  to  cloud 

your  way. 
The  puzzles  and  perplexities,  that  trouble  you  to-day. 
I  tell  Him  all  the  story  now,  no  other  friend  can  be, 
In  morning  Hght  or  evening  shades,  what  Jesus  is  to 

me." 


Message  for  To-day:  v.  9:  The  sinner  destroys  him- 
self. He  sows  and  he  reaps.  Gal.  6:7.  God  longs  to 
save  him  even  from  himself,  but  he  will  not.     Cf.  11:8. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       75 


ELEVENTH  WEEK.    "  THE  YEARNING  GOD." 


Fifth    Day:    Hosea    14:1-9.     True    Prayer    of   Re- 
pentance AND   Its  Answer. 

The  long-suffering  heavenly  Father  pleads  with  them 
to  return,  v.  i. 

What  caused  their  fall?     V.   i. 


Notice  how  in  their  prayer  they  are  to  renounce  all 
trust  in  other  helpers :  Assyria,  horses,  idols. 

Memorize  v.  4. 

It  seems  almost  impossible  to  believe  that  God  could 
make  such  an  offer  to  this  sinful  nation  as  is  made  in 
vs.  4-8. 

What  is  the  significance  of  such  figures  as  are  used 
in  these  verses.     Cf.  Ps.  i. 


Epilogue,  v.  9.     Would  not  this  be  a  good  verse  to 
associate  with  these  studies  on  the  old  prophets? 


76       The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


ELEVENTH  WEEK.    "  THE  YEARNING  GOD.' 


Sixth  Day:  The  Message  of  Hosea. 
Read  Ps.  19. 

"  The  chapters  of  Hosea  are  drenched  with  the  dew 
of  God's  mercy,  of  which  no  drop  falls  on  those  of 
Amos,  but  there  God  is  rather  the  roar  as  of  a  lion,  the 
flash  as  of  lightning.  Both  prophets  bid  Israel  return 
to  God,  but  Amos  means  by  that,  to  justice,  truth,  and 
purity,  while  Hosea  describes  a  husband,  father,  long- 
suffering  and  full  of  mercy.  '  I  bid  you  come  back,' 
cries  Amos ;  but  Hosea  pleads,  '  If  only  you  were  aware 
of  what  God  is,  you  would  come  back.'  '  Come  back  to 
God  and  live,'  cries  Amos ;  but  Hosea,  '  Come  back  to 
God,  for  He  is  love.'  Amos  calls,  '  Come  back  at  once, 
for  there  is  but  little  time  left  till  God  must  visit  you  in 
judgment ' ;  but  Hosea,  '  Come  back  at  once,  for  God 
has  loved  you  so  long  and  so  kindly.'  Amos  cries, 
'  Turn,  for  in  front  of  you  is  destruction  ' ;  but  Hosea, 
*  Turn,  for  behind  you  is  God.'  And  that  is  why  all 
Hosea's  preaching  of  repentance  is  so  evangelical.  '  I 
will  arise  and  go  to  my  Father.'  " 

The  Message  of  Hosea : 

1.  Repentance  is  returning  unto  God:  "To  Hosea 
repentance  is  no  mere  change  in  the  direction  of  one's 
life.  It  is  turning  back  upon  one's  self,  a  retracing  of 
one's  footsteps,  a  confession  and  acknowledgment  of 
what  one  has  abandoned." 

2.  The  sin  against  love :  God  loves  us  with  unutter- 
able love.  In  sin  we  turn  away  from  such  love,  but  He 
loves  us  still.    The  father  goes  to  meet  the  prodigal  son. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets        77 


ELEVENTH  WEEK.    "  THE  YEARNING  GOD." 


Seventh  Day:  Hosea. 

Read  Ps.  40. 

"  Hosea  is  a  man  of  emotion  rather  than  of  logic, 
a  poet  rather  than  a  preacher,  and  the  unity  of  his  book 
is  maintained  through  the  sudden  transitions  and  swift 
revulsions  of  feeling  characteristic  of  his  style,  not  by 
a  well-planned  symmetry  of  argument  such  as  we  find 
in  Amos,  but  by  a  constant  undercurrent  of  faith  in  the 
identity  of  Jehovah's  love  to  man  with  that  pure  and 
unselfish  affection  which  binds  the  prophet  himself  to 
his  guilty  and  fallen  nation." 

While  it  is  difficult  to  make  an  outline  of  Hosea,  it 
would  be  helpful  to  run  over  the  studies  and  see  what 
you  can  do. 


Key  thought.     The   following  are   suggested ;  which 
would  you  select? 

God's  mercy  and  man's  misery. 
God's  great  love. 
Spiritual  adultery. 
Key  word :  Love. 
Key  text:  14:9. 


78        The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TWELFTH  WEEK.    SIN  AND  ITS  PUNISHMENT. 


First  Day  :  Micah  i  :i.     I.  Title  of  Book. 

The  author,  Micah — a  native  of  Moresheth-gath,  a  town 
of  Judah,  1:1,9.  "In  him  Amos  Hves  again.  Like  Amos, 
a  dweller  in  the  country  and  a  man  of  the  people,  his 
straightforwardness  and  lively  sense  of  justice  suffered 
itself  to  be  neither  silenced  nor  repressed." 

The  date  of  the  book :  740  b.c.  Cf.  Isa.  1:1;  Hos.  1:1; 
Jer.  26:17-19. 

Micah  and  Isaiah  were  contemporaries.  "  It  pleased 
God  that  a  testimony  should  be  borne  by  the  mouth  of  two, 
and  that  the  holy  Isaiah  should  be  assisted  by  his  friend, 
and,  as  it  were,  his  colleague."    Calvin. 

Isaiah  views  the  condition  of  affairs  from  the  standpoint 
of  the  leaders ;  Micah  from  that  of  the  humble  folk. 

Against  whom  did  he  prophesy  ?    V.  i. 

Notice  the  names  of  the  cities.    Why? 

Read  2  Kings  16  to  get  the  historical  setting  of  the 
prophecy. 

"  In  touch,  then,  with  the  capital,  feeling  every  throb 
of  its  folly  and  its  panic,  but  standing  on  that  border  which 
must,  as  he  believed,  bear  the  brunt  of  the  invasion  that 
its  crimes  were  attracting,  Micah  lifted  up  his  voice.  They 
were  days  of  great  excitement.  The  words  of  Amos 
and  Hosea  had  been  fulfilled  upon  Northern  Israel. 
Should  Judah  escape,  whose  injustice  and  impurity  were 
as  flagrant  as  her  sisters  ?  It  were  vain  to  think  so.  The 
Assyrians  had  come  up  to  the  northern  border.  Isaiah 
was  expecting  their  assault  upon  Mount  Zion.  The  Lord's 
controversy  was  not  closed.  Micah  will  surnmon  the 
whole  earth  to  hear  the  old  indictment  and  the  still  un- 
exhausted sentence." 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       79 


TWELFTH  WEEK.    SIN  AND  ITS  PUNISHMENT. 


Second  Day:  Micah  1:2-7.    Punishment  Coming. 

II.  Threat  of  judgment,  i  :2-i6. 

I.  Punishment  is  coming  on  Samaria,  i  •.2-y. 
Where  was  Samaria  ? 


Who  is  speaking  in  vs.  2-4? 
What  does  he  say  ? 

God  speaks  in  vs.  5-7. 

Why  were  they  to  be  punished  ? 

How  was  Samaria  the  sin  of  Jacob  ?    V.  5. 

What  had  Jerusalem  to  do  with  Judah  ?     V.  5. 

Destruction  :  of  city,  v.  6 ;  of  false  religions,  v.  7. 


8o       The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TWELFTH  WEEK.    SIN  AND  ITS  PUNISHMENT. 


Third  Day  :  Micah  i  :8-i6.     A  Lament. 

2.  The  prophet's  lament,  vs.  8-i6. 
What   is   the   meaning   of   "  /   unll  go   stripped   and 
naked  "  ?     V.  8. 


Why  does  he  use  the  words  jackals  and   ostriches? 
V.  8. 


Why  "  tell  it  not  in  Gath  "?    V.  lo.    Cf.  2  Sam.  i  :20. 


Locate  on  the  map  the  various  cities  mentioned  here. 

On  "  /  have  rolled  myself  in  the  dust,"  v.  lo,  see  2 
Sam.  13:19. 

Why  does  he  use  the  expression,  ''Make  thee  hald"f 
V.  16. 


State  the  substance  of  these  verses. 


There  is  a  play  upon  words  here  which  cannot  be  repro- 
duced. Dr.  Morgan  says  it  is  as  if  we  said :  "  In  Phila- 
delphia there  is  no  brotherly  love." 

"  Having  thus  pictured  the  doom  which  threatened  his 
people,  Micah  turns  to  declare  the  sins  for  which  it  has 
been  sent  upon  them." 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       8i 


TWELFTH  WEEK.    SIN  AND  ITS  PUNISHMENT. 


Fourth  Day  :  Micah  2  :i-5.     The  Cause  Stated. 

III.  The  cause  of  the  coming  judgment ;  the  sins  of  the 
great.    Chs.  2  and  3. 
I.  The  sin  and  its  punishment. 

They  do  not  sin  accidentally ;  they  calmly  in  the 
time  of  reflection  devise  evil. 


What  is  the  sin  described  here?    Cf.  i  Kings  21. 


Note  devise  in  vs.  i  and  3.    Gal.  6  :y. 
Punishment  is  to  follow  sin. 

What  is  the  meaning  of  v.  5?     Note  that  God  makes 
the  punishment  fit  the  crime. 


Prayer  :  "  O  God,  we  are  so  prone  to  do  that  which  is 
evil  in  Thy  sight,  we  devise  iniquity,  even  as  Thy  people 
of  old.  But  Thou,  Lord,  art  our  helper.  Thou  art  merci- 
ful and  long-sufifering ;  look  upon  us  in  our  weakness,  and 
with  Thine  own  mighty  power  guard  us  from  the  sins  into 
which  in  our  own  strength  we  so  often  fall.  Make  us 
strong  to  do  Thy  will  in  the  strength  of  Jesus  Christ  our 
Lord.    Amen." 


82       The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TWELFTH  WEEK.    SIN  AND  ITS  PUNISHMENT. 


Fifth  Day:  Micah  2:6-13.    The  Request  and  His 

Reply. 

2.  He  is  asked  not  to  prophesy,  v.  6. 
Have  you  ever  felt  uncomfortable  under  the  preaching 
of  some  man  of  God.     Cf.  Isa.  30  ig,  10 ;  Amos  7:12. 


What  must  have  been  the  condition  of  the  people  at  such 
a  time  ? 


3.  The  prophet's  answer,  vs.  7-11. 
"  This  is  the  evil — the  ease  with  which  evil  is  done  in 
the  country." 

What  sin  is  referred  to  in  v.  8  ? 


The  kind  of  preacher  they  liked  was  one  who  tells  them 
things  they  like  to  hear,  v.  1 1.  Isn't  this  very  largely  true 
now? 

Notice  that  vs.  12,  13  are  an  interruption  to  the  thought. 
Some  think  they  are  the  words  of  the  false  prophets. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       83 


TWELFTH  WEEK.    SIN  AND  ITS  PUNISHMENT. 


Sixth  Day  :  Micah  3  :i-8.    Sins  of  the  Great. 
What  class  is  addressed  here  ?    Vs.  1-4. 

What  was  their  sin  ?    Vs.  2,  3. 


"  O  masters,  lords  and  rulers  of  all  lands, 
Is  this  the  handiwork  you  give  to  God, 
This  monstrous  thing,  distorted  and  soul-quenched? 
How  will  you  ever  straighten  up  this  shape ; 
Touch  it  again  with  immortality  ; 
Give  back  the  upward  looking  and  the  light. 
Rebuild  in  it  the  music  and  the  dream ; 
Make  right  the  immemorial  infamies. 
Perfidious  wrongs,  immedicable  woes  ?  " 

Seers,  diviners,  v.  7.  We  know  little  of  what  the  Seers 
were ;  they  were  like  prophets,  i  Sam.  9  '.g.  Diviners  were 
those  who  thought  themselves  inspired. 

Vs.  5-8  are  addressed  to  the  false  prophets ;  they  shall 
have  no  vision.  God  help  us  when  we  cease  to  see  visions. 
See  the  promises  in  Joel.     Acts  2  :iy. 

Note  the  true  prophet's  power,  v.  8.    What  was  it  ? 


Compare  v.  8  with  Acts  i  :8.     The  God  of  the  Old  Tes- 
tament is  the  God  of  the  New  Testament,  too. 


84       The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TWELFTH  WEEK.    SIN  AND  ITS  PUNISHMENT. 


Seventh  Day  :  Micah  3 :9-i2.    Hopeless  Corruption 
OF  THE  Leaders. 

To  whom  are  these  verses  addressed? 

What  three  classes  of  the  people  are  mentioned  in  v.  11? 

What  was  the  sin  of  each  ? 

What  was  their  common  sin  ? 
What  was  to  be  the  result  ? 


"  One  hundred  and  fifteen  years  after  Jerusalem  was 
rescued  from  the  hands  of  Sennacherib,  the  prophecy  of 
Micah  was  fulfilled.  Jerusalem  became  a  heap  of  ruins, 
the  temple  a  smoking  pile,  and  the  people  were  led  away 
into  far  captivity." 

According  to  Jer.  26:18,  19,  this  prophecy  of  Micah's 
made  a  deep  impression  upon  king  and  people. 


Message  for  To-day  : 
"  God  give  us  men !    A  time  like  this  demands 
Great   hearts,    strong   minds,   true   faith,   and   willing 

hands ; 
Men  whom  the  lust  of  office  does  not  kill ; 
Men  whom  the  spoils  of  office  cannot  buy ; 
Men  who  possess  opinions  and  a  will ; 
Men  who  have  honor,  men  who  cannot  die." 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       85 


THIRTEENTH    WEEK.     VISIONS    OF    THE 
TRIUMPHANT    FUTURE. 


First  Day:  Micah  Chs.  1-3.    Judgment  Because  of 

Sin. 

What  are  we  taught  as  to  the  nature  of  God  ?     i  :2,  3 ; 
2:3;  3:11. 


What  is  it  that  brings  punishment?    i  :5  ;  3:4,  6,  12. 
What  are  we  taught  of  God's  omnipotence  ?    i  :6 ;  2 :3. 
What  classes  had  sinned?    2:1,  2,  8;  3:1,  9. 


Fill  in  the  references  in  the  following  outline: 

I.  Title. 
II.  Threat  of  judgment. 

1.  Punishment  is  coming. 

2.  Micah's  lament. 

III.  The  cause  of  the  coming  judgment :  the  sins  of  the 
great. 

1.  Sin  and  its  punishment. 

2.  Asked  not  to  prophesy. 

3.  His  answer. 

4.  Sins  of  the  great. 

5.  Hopelessly  corrupt  leaders. 


86       The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


THIRTEENTH    WEEK.     VISIONS    OF    THE 
TRIUMPHANT    FUTURE. 


Second    Day:    Micah    4:1-5.      Isa.    2:2-4.      Ideal 
Happiness. 

IV.  Visions  of  the  triumphant  future.    Chs.  4,  5. 

How  is  it  that  both  Micah  and  Isaiah  prophesy  in  the 
same  words?  See  another  striking  example  of  this  in 
2  Peter  2  and  Jude. 


What  is  meant  by  latter  days?    V.  i. 

What  is  going  to  happen? 

While  these  studies  are  based  on  the  Minor  Proph- 
ets, it  will  be  well  as  we  proceed  to  try  to  catch  the  mes- 
sage of  the  other  prophets.  Isaiah  and  Micah  being 
contemporaries,  we  might  think  to-day  of  that  greatest 
of  the  Hebrew  prophets,  Isaiah,  who  appears  in  Jeru- 
salem at  the  end  of  the  reign  of  Uzziah  (740  b.c),  a 
hundred  years  before  Jeremiah.  He  "  was  a  child  when 
Amos  appeared  at  Bethel,  and  a  youth  when  Hosea 
began  to  prophesy  in  north  Israel."  He  prophesied 
under  Uzziah,  Jotham,  Ahaz,  and  Hezekiah,  kings  of 
Judah.  He  had  constant  access  to  the  court  and  pres- 
ence of  the  king.  "  Seated  at  the  tiller  he  guides  by  the 
divine  compass  the  little  ship  of  his  fatherland  through 
the  rocks  and  breakers  of  a  wild  and  stormy  period." 
His  book  is  divided  into  two  distinct  sections.  Chs. 
1-39,  40-66;  and  the  plain  difference  in  these  two 
parts  has  caused  some  scholars  to  think  that  they  were 
written  by  different  men.  The  first  section  contains 
various  prophecies  concerning  Judah,  Israel,  and  for- 
eign nations ;  the  second  section  is  a  continuous  prophecy 
of  "  Israel's  restoration  from  exile  in  Babylon." 

Read  Isa.  53. 


The  JMessage  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       87 


THIRTEENTH    WEEK.     VISIONS    OF    THE 
TRIUMPHANT    FUTURE. 


Third   Day:   Micah   4:6-5:1.    Exile   and   Restora- 
tion. 

What  day  is  referred  to  in  v.  6? 
Why  gather  the  lame? 


Some  one  has  said  that  Christianity  is  the  "  survival 
of  the  unfit."     Cf.  Luke  14:21. 

God  is  to  become  their  king;  it  is  a  prophecy  of  res- 
toration. 

Who  is  addressed  in  v.  8? 


What  is  the  substance  of  vs.  9-5  :i. 


Read  Ps.  46. 


The  fourth  great  division  of  the  history  of  the  Hebrew 
people  (see  study  for  fifth  week,  second  day)  is  The 
Chosen  Nation  under  a  secular  kingship  side  by  side 
with  a  Theocracy. 

1.  Reign  of  David  and  Solomon.  2  Sam.  2-22;  i 
Kings  i-ii. 

2.  The  Schism  of  the  Kingdom  of  Judah  and  Israel 
side  by  side,     i  Kings  12  to  2  Kings  17. 

3.  The  Kingdom  of  Judah  to  its  Captivity.  2  Kings 
18-25. 


88       The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


THIRTEENTH    WEEK.     VISIONS    OF    THE 
TRIUMPHANT    FUTURE. 


Fourth  Day  :  Micah  5  -.2-^.    The  Coming  King. 

What  prophecy  have  we  here  ?     See  Matt.  2 :6 ;  John 
7:42. 


"  Whose  goings  forth  are  from  of  old?  "  V.  i.  Cf. 
Isa.  63 :9. 

What  are  we  told  about  the  Messiah  in  these  verses, 
omitting  vs.  6,  7? 


Christ's  "lowly  origin  was  a  fact.  He  sprang  from 
the  most  democratic  of  peoples.  His  ancestor  was  a 
shepherd,  and  His  mother  a  peasant  girl.  He  Himself 
was  a  carpenter:  at  home,  as  His  parables  show,  in  the 
fields,  and  the  folds  and  the  barns  of  His  country ;  with 
the  servants  of  the  great  houses,  with  the  unemployed 
in  the  markets,  with  the  woman  in  the  hovel  seeking 
one  piece  of  silver,  with  the  shepherd  on  the  moors  seek- 
ing the  lost  sheep.  The  poor  had  the  Gospel  preached 
to  them;  and  the  common  people  heard  Him  gladly." 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       89 


THIRTEENTH    WEEK.     VISIONS    OF    THE 
TRIUMPHANT    FUTURE. 


Fifth  Day:  Micah  5:10-15.     Demoralizing  Influ- 
ences TO  BE  Cut  Off. 

This  refers  to  the  same  day  as  4:6,  a  day  of  restora- 
tion and  rejoicing;  what,  then,  is  the  meaning  of  vs. 
10,  II  ? 


Soothsayers,  v.  12.  "  Truth  tellers,"  more  precisely 
here  diviners  of  the  clouds. 

In  V.  12  he  refers  again  to  those  who  had  led  them 
astray. 

What  is  the  meaning  of  vs.  12,  13? 


What  title  can  be  given  to  this  section  of  the  book  of 
Micah  ? 


This  might  have  been  the  end  of  the  book:  Destruc- 
tion (Chs.  1-3)  ;  Deliverance  (Chs.  4,  5).  This  is  God's 
plan  of  salvation :  man  lost,  destroyed  by  his  own  sin ; 
saved,  delivered  by  God  through  Jesus  Christ.  "  He 
took  me  up  out  of  the  horrible  pit." 

Prayer  :  "  Almighty  God,  Thou  who  art  of  purer  eyes 
than  to  behold  iniquity,  search  my  heart  to-day  and  see 
if  there  be  any  wicked  way  in  me,  and  lead  me  in  the 
way  everlasting;  take  out  of  my  life  everything  that 
works  against  Thee,  all  ambitions,  desires,  thoughts 
which  hinder  my  intercourse  with  Thee ;  may  the  in- 
iquities of  my  heart  which  have  separated  Thee  from 
me  be  forever  blotted  out  through  the  grace  of  my  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.    Amen." 


90       The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


THIRTEENTH    WEEK.     VISIONS    OF    THE 
TRIUMPHANT   FUTURE. 


Sixth  Day:  Micah  Chs.  4,  5.    Deliverance. 

What  blessings  are  to  come  to  them?    4:1,  3,  6,  10, 
13;  5:9.  10-15. 


Who  is  to  do  all  this?    4:6,  7,  10,  13  et  seq. 


Note  the  number  of  times  "  I  will  "  occurs  in  these 
chapters. 

Make  a  list  of  the  things  Jehovah  says  He  will  do. 


What  is  God's  people  to  become  ?    4 :5 ;  5 :7,  8. 


In  Micah  we  have  God's  controversy  with  His  people. 
He  pleads  with  them  to  be  at  one  with  Him,  for  they 
cannot  go  on  together.  "  Enoch  walked  with  God," 
but  it  was  because  they  were  agreed.  "  Shall  two  walk 
together,  except  they  be  agreed  ?  "    Amos  3 13. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       9: 


THIRTEENTH    WEEK.     VISIONS    OF    THE 
TRIUMPHANT    FUTURE. 


Seventh  Day:  Micah  5:2.    The  Messianic  Promise. 
How  is  this  promise  used  in  the  New  Testameni? 


Notice  in  the  following  passages  how  the  Messianic 
promise  increased  in  definiteness  through  the  Old  Tes- 
tament : 

Gen.  3:15.     Of  the  seed  of  the  woman. 

Gen.  9 :26,  27.    Of  the  family  of  Noah,  line  of  Shem. 

Gen.  12:1-3.     Of  the  seed  of  Abraham. 

Gen.  49:10.     Of  the  tribe  of  Judah. 

2  Sam.  7:11-16.    Of  the  house  of  David. 

Micah  5:1-4.     To  be  born  in  Bethlehem. 


Memorize  5  :2. 


"  O  little  town  of  Bethlehem, 

How  still  we  see  thee  lie! 
Above  thy  deep  and  dreamless  sleep 

The  silent  stars  go  by; 
Yet  in  thy  dark  streets  shineth 

The  everlasting  light ; 
The  hopes  and  fears  of  all  the  years 

Are  met  in  thee  to-night." 


92       The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


FOURTEENTH  WEEK.  GOD'S  CONTRO- 
VERSY. 


First  Day:  Micah  6:i-8.    The  Reasonableness  of 
Religion. 

Part  V  of  the  book  begins  here,  chs.  6  and  7.  It 
might  be  called  "  The  Lord's  controversy  with  His  peo- 
ple." 

"  These  few  verses  (6:1-8),  in  which  Micah  sets  forth 
the  true  essence  of  religion,  may  raise  a  well-founded 
title  to  be  counted  as  the  most  important  in  the  prophetic 
literature.  Like  almost  no  others,  they  afiford  us  an 
insight  into  the  innermost  nature  of  the  religion  of  Israel, 
as  delivered  by  the  prophets." 

The  prophet  speaks  in  vs.  i,  2. 

Who  does  he  call  to  hear,  and  why? 

God  speaks  in  vs.  3-5. 
What  does  God  call  them? 

What  is  God's  attitude  toward  them? 


Why  does  He  refer  them  to  the  old  history? 

George  A.  Smith,  commenting  on  this  fact,  says :  "  It 
is  the  fact  of  redemption  which  forms  the  main  ground 
of  His  appeal."  See  "  Ye  are  not  your  own ;  ye  are 
bought  with  a  price." 

The  people  speak  in  vs.  6,  7. 

What  is  the  meaning  of  what  they  say? 


Hear  the  prophet's  answer  in  v.  8. 
What  is  it? 


It  has  been  called  "  The  greatest  saying  in  the  Old 
Testament."     Cf.  Zech.  7:8-10. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       92 


FOURTEENTH   WEEK.     GOD'S   CONTRO- 
VERSY. 


Second  Day:   Micah  6:9-16.     Destruction  is  Com- 
ing. 

God  answers. 

Hear  ye  the  rod,  v.  9,  i.  e.,  Hear  ye  the  prophecy  of 
punishment. 

What  sins  does  He  call  their  attention  to  in  vs.  9-11. 


To  whom  does  he  refer  by  the  words,  The  Man  of 
Wisdom,  V.  9? 
Why  has  God  punished  them?    V.  13. 


Where  have  we  had  a  prediction  similar  to  that  in  vs. 
14,  IS- 

What  were  "  The  statutes  of  Omri "  ?    V.  16. 


Message  for  To-day,  vs.  6-8:  How  shall  I  come  to 
God?  Shall  I  do  some  outward  act?  "Shall  I  come 
before  Him  with  burnt  offerings  ?  "  No.  May  I  not 
please  Him  by  giving.  "  Will  the  Lord  be  pleased  with 
thousands  of  rams  ?  "  No.  Perhaps  by  suffering  I  can 
win  my  way  to  Him.  "  Shall  I  give  my  firstborn  for 
my  transgression  ?  "  No.  What,  then  ?  "  By  being. 
By  being  just  and  merciful  and  humble  before  our 
God.  It  is  the  answer  of  all  the  prophets;  it  is  the  an- 
swer of  all  the  apostles ;  it  is  the  answer  of  Christ  Him- 
self. God  needs  not  our  services.  He  needs  not  our 
gifts,  least  of  all  does  He  need  our  suffering;  but  He 
needs  us — our  hearts,  our  lives,  our  love." 


94       l^he  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


FOURTEENTH  WEEK.  GOD'S  CONTRO- 
VERSY. 


Third  Day:  Micah  7:1-6.     The  Times  are  Bad. 

The  reply  of  the  people.  "  One  of  the  most  poignant 
criticisms  of  a  commercial  community  which  has  ever 
appeared  in  literature." 

The  people,  speaking  as  one  man,  say :  "  I  am  all 
alone;  there  is  no  company  of  us — no  cluster." 

The  godly  man  has  perished — no  righteous  men  are 
left  in  the  land,  v.  2. 

What  sins  are  enumerated? 


Why  are  the  symbols   of   a  brier  and   thorn   hedge 
appropriate?     V.  4. 


Vs.  5,  6.  Those  who  should  be  friends  are  now 
enemies. 

"  Micah  depicts  the  sufferings  of  the  peasantry  at  the 
hands  of  their  lords  from  much  closer  personal  observa- 
tion than  was  possible  to  Isaiah  as  a  resident  of  the 
capital.  He  speaks  as  a  man  of  the  people,  and  reveals 
to  us,  as  no  other  prophet  does,  the  feelings  of  the  com- 
monalty toward  their  oppressors."  The  same  thing  is 
going  on  to-day;  can  you  mention  some  instances? 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       95 


FOURTEENTH  WEEK.  GOD'S  CONTRO- 
VERSY. 


Fourth  Day:   Micah  7:7-17.     Israel's  Confession 
AND  Prayer. 

See  the  contrast  in  vs.  6  and  7. 

A  man  could  not  trust  his  own  family,  he  could  trust 
God.    "  My  God  will  hear  me." 

Note  the  confession  in  v.  9.  Cf.  Luke  15:18,  21.  i 
John  I  :g. 

The  prophet  assures  them  that  it  is  all  right.  "  Your 
wall  will  be  rebuilt  in  the  day  you  return  to  God,"  vs. 

11-13- 
What  do  they  pray  for  in  vs.  14-17? 


Prayer  :  "  Who  is  a  God  like  unto  Thee,  O  God ;  that 
pardoneth  iniquity  and  delighteth  in  mercy.  Thou  hast 
so  often  turned  to  us  again  when  we  have  turned  away 
from  Thee  into  sin  and  misery ;  Thou  hast  trodden  our 
iniquities  under  Thy  feet,  Thou  hast  cast  our  sins  into 
the  depths  of  the  sea ;  unto  Thee,  and  Thee  alone,  do 
we  look  for  salvation.  Be  gracious  to  us  and  cause 
Thy  face  to  shine  upon  us  and  grant  us  Thy  peace. 
Amen." 


^6       ,The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


FOURTEENTH   WEEK.     GOD'S   CONTRO- 
VERSY. 


Fifth  Day:  Micah  7:18-20.    A  Hymn  of  Praise. 

What  attributes  of  God  does  he  dwell  on  in  this  lyric 
poem? 


What  will  God  do? 


Memorize  v.  19. 

Why  "  to  Jacob  "  and  "  to  Abraham,"  v.  20,  who  had 
been  dead  so  long?     Cf.  Rev.  6:9-11. 


What  promises  are  referred  to  in  v.  20?     Cf.  Isa. 
12:1-6. 


How  will  God  treat  our  sin  if  we  will  let  Him?  V. 
19.    Cf.  Isa.  38:17;  Jer.  31:34. 

"  He  ivill  have  compassion  upon  us,"  v.  19.  Cf.  Matt. 
9  •■36. 

"  Subdual  of  iniquities  and  casting  of  sins  into  the 
depths  are  expressions  instinct  with  allusion  to  the  ever- 
memorable  escape  of  Israel  from  Pharaoh  in  the  Red 
Sea.  Our  iniquities  and  sins  are  the  Egyptians  that 
pursue  us,  making  our  lives  wretched,  and  bent  on  drag- 
ging us  back  into  captivity.  The  Lord  come  between 
us  and  them,  and  cast  them  into  a  deep  sleep  from 
which  they  shall  never  awake  to  molest  us.  Then  shall 
we  thank  God  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord  for  the 
subdual  of  iniquities,  the  victory  over  sin,  which  is 
by  His  Grace,  not  by  our  prowess." 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       97 


FOURTEENTH   WEEK.     GOD'S    CONTRO- 
VERSY. 


Sixth  Day:  Micah  6:8.     Righteousness,  Mercy, 
Humility. 

This  great  saying  deserves  to  be  studied  by  itself. 
What  three  things  does  the  prophet  say  God  asks  His 
people  to  do? 


He  seems  to  sum  up  the  teaching  of  Amos,  "  Doing 
justly " ;  Hosea,  "  Loving-kindness " ;  and  Isaiah, 
"  Walking  humbly." 

Memorize  this  verse. 

"  It  is  no  mere  religion  of  legal  obedience  that  these 
words  proclaim.  Jehovah  requires  of  man  not  only  to 
do,  but  to  love  mercy.  A  heart  that  delights  in  acts  of 
piety  and  loving-kindness,  the  humility  that  walks  in 
lowly  communion  with  God — these  are  the  things  in 
which  Jehovah  takes  pleasure,  and  this  is  the  teaching 
of  the  law  and  the  prophets,  on  which  our  Lord  Him- 
self has  set  His  seal  (Matt.  22:37  ^^  seq.)." 

"  An  expressive  activity  is  necessary  to  the  student 
of  the  Bible." 


98       The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


FOURTEENTH   WEEK.    GOD'S   CONTRO- 
VERSY. 


Seventh  Day:  Micah  Chs.  1-7, 

Run  over  the  studies  on  Micah  and  write  out  the  fol- 
lowing outline: 
I.  1:1. 


II.  1:2-16. 

III.  Chs.  2  and  3. 

IV.  Chs.  4  and  5. 
V.  Chs.  6  and  7. 

Key  thought:  Judgment  followed  by  redemption. 
"  The  supreme  authority  in  all  the  affairs  of  men  is 
God." 

Key  word :  Controversy. 

Key  text:  6:2. 

The  Message  of  Micah :  "  Micah's  message  is  con- 
veniently summarized  in  ch.  6:8,  and  it  is  obvious  as 
we  read  it  that  he  has  profited  in  no  slight  measure  by 
the  teaching  of  his  predecessors.  Amos  had  empha- 
sized righteousness,  or  '  doing  justly,'  as  the  essence  of 
his  teaching;  Hosea  the  duty  of  loving-kindness,  or  the 
mercy  that  is  kindled  in  the  human  breast  as  a  reflection 
of  the  divine ;  and  Isaiah,  the  sublime  thought  of  holi- 
ness, or  divine  majesty,  before  which  man  can  only  walk 
humbly,  and  tremble  at  His  word.  And  now  the  prophet 
of  Moresheth-gath  combines  all  three:  he  embraces 
righteousness,  mercy,  and  humility  in  one  supreme  re- 
quirement." 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets       99 


FIFTEENTH  WEEK.    A  CALL  TO  REPENTANCE. 


First  Day:  Zephaniah   1:1-6.     Judgment 
Threatened. 

I.  Title   1:1.     Notice  in  the  Modern  Reader's  Bible 
this  is  printed  as  a  title-page.     Such  it  might  well  be. 

The  date  of  the  book  is  fixed  by  the  reference  to  King 
Josiah,  640-609  B.C. 

What  do  we  know  about  this  prophet  ? 


The  fact  that  he  is  careful  to  trace  his  pedigree  back  to 
Hezekiah,  his  great-grandfather,  leads  us  to  believe  that 
this  was  the  king  of  that  name. 

He  speaks  as  one  who  lived  in  a  city — Jerusalem,  vs. 

4,  5-    . 

Against  which  nation  does  he  speak?    V.  4. 


"  The  conditions  reflected  are  twofold — the  idolatrous 
and  sceptical  state  of  the  people  and  an  impending  in- 
vasion." 

H.  The  Threat  of  Judgment,  i  :2-i8. 
Everything  to  be  destroyed,  vs.  2  and  3. 
Judah  and  Jerusalem  to  be  destroyed,  vs.  4-6. 


loo     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


FIFTEENTH  WEEK.    A  CALL  TO  REPENTANCE. 


Second  Day  :  Zephaniah   i  -.7-18.     Dies  Ira. 

He  continues  his  description  of  impending  destruction. 
God  has  prepared  a  sacrificial  feast,  v.  7. 


Who  is  to  be  destroyed  ? 

What  does  he  mean  by  "  such  as  are  clothed  with  for- 
o^n  apparel  "  ?    V.  8.     Cf .  Matt.  1 1 :8. 


ctg 


What  kind  of  people  are  intended  by  "  those  that  leap 
over  the  threshold  "  ?    V.  9. 


In  vs.  10-13  we  have  his  description  of  the  city  in  ruins. 
What  was  the  "  Fish  gate  "?    V.  10.    Cf.  Neh.  3:1-3. 

What  was  "  the  second  quarter  "  ?  V.  10.  Cf.  2  Kings 
22:14. 

What  is  the  meaning  of  v.  11? 

Notice  how  thorough  the  destruction  is  to  be :  God  is 
going  to  take  a  lamp  and  look  into  the  dark  corners,  v. 
12.     Cf.  Amos  9:2,  3. 

The  terrible  day,  vs.  14-18. 

It  is  near,  v.  14.     What  are  its  characteristics?     Vs. 

In  the  Vulgate  v.  15  begins  "Dies  ira,  dies  ilia." 
These  words  were  adopted  by  Thomas  of  Celano  as  the 
opening  words  of  his  splendid  hymn  on  the  last  judg- 
ment: 

"  Day  of  vengeance,  without  morrow, 
Earth  shall  end  in  flame  and  sorrow, 
As  from  saint  and  seer  we  borrow." 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets     loi 


FIFTEENTH  WEEK.    A  CALL  TO  REPENTANCE. 


Third  Day:  Zephaniah  2:1-3.     Repent  1 

in.  An  admonition  to  repent.     2:1-3:7. 

Study  the  meaning  of  repentance  as  shown  in  the  fol- 
lowing references:  Mark  1:15;  Luke  13:3;  Acts  26:20; 
Matt.  3  :8. 


For  what  is  true  repentance  but  in  thought — 
Not  even  in  inmost  thought  to  think  again 
The  sins  that  made  the  past  so  pleasant  to  us." 


Compare  v.  3  with  1:12. 


In  Josiah's  thirteenth  year  (627  B.C.),  while  Zephaniah 
was  speaking,  the  call  comes  to  one  of  the  greatest  of  the 
prophets,  Jeremiah,  and  for  more  than  forty  years  he  lived 
among  his  people,  suffering  as  only  He  of  whom  he  was  a 
type,  Jesus  Christ,  suffered  (cf.  20:2;  11:21;  36:19,  26; 
38:4).  His  life  was  one  long  sorrow  (9:2;  5  :io;  20:14). 
He  died  at  last  far  from  home  in  Egypt.  He  has  been 
called  "  The  prophet  of  the  bleeding  heart  and  the  iron 
will."  The  first  thirty-five  chapters  of  his  book  are  de- 
voted to  prophecies  concerning  Judah  and  Jerusalem,  and 
the  last  six  have  to  do  with  Egypt  and  other  foreign  na- 
tions ;  between  them  is  a  historical  section  of  nine  chapters 
telling  about  the  collection  of  the  prophecies  into  a  volume. 
Read  the  verses  mentioned  above. 


I02     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


FIFTEENTH  WEEK.    A  CALL  TO  REPENTANCE. 


Fourth  Day:  Zephaniah  2:4-15.    Whole  Earth  to 
BE  Destroyed. 

Study  this  section  with  the  map  and  notice  how  all 
points  of  the  compass  are  included. 

West,  vs.  4-7.     Locate  these  places  on  the  map. 

East,  vs.  8-1 1.  What  fate  was  to  come  upon  these 
nations  ? 

South,  V.  12. 

North,  ys.  13-15. 

God  rules  all  nations,  v.  4.  Cf.  Zech.  9:1-7;  Amos 
1 :3-2 :3. 

What  is  the  prophet's  purpose  in  telling  Judah  that  all 
these  nations  are  to  suffer  ? 


Message  for  To-day  :  What  a  blessed  thing  it  would  be 
if  we  could  learn  by  observation  ;  but,  no ;  most  of  us  must 
have  the  experience  ourselves  before  we  learn.  We  see 
God  visiting  the  sins  of  the  fathers  upon  the  third  and 
fourth  generations  of  them  that  hate  Him,  but  we  are  not 
taught  thereby. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets      103 


FIFTEENTH  WEEK.    A  CALL  TO  REPENTANCE. 


Fifth  Day:  Zephaniah  3:1-7.    Still  Another  Call. 

To  Jerusalem :  Repent.    V,  i  refers  to  Jerusalem. 
What  was  her  sin  ?    V.  2. 


What  classes  are  referred  to  in  vs.  3  and  4? 
What  were  their  respective  sins? 

God  is  contrasted  with  the  wicked  rulers,  v.  5. 
What  is  the  purpose  of  v.  6? 

It  was  no  use,  v.  7. 
Read  Ps.  14. 


I04     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


FIFTEENTH  WEEK.    A  CALL  TO  REPENTANCE. 


Sixth   Day:   Zephaniah   3:8-20.     The  Promise  to 
THE  Faithful. 

This  is  Part  IV  of  the  book. 
What  is  the  substance  of  v.  8  ? 


In  vs.  14-20  we  have  the  Song  of  the  Redeemed. 

Read  Ps.  126. 

What  is  the  substance  of  this  song  ? 


"  To  Zephaniah  has  fallen  the  lot  of  uttering  the  very 
sweetest  love-song  in  the  Old  Testament :  That  exquisite 
picture  of  the  motherhood  of  God  which  we  have  in  the 
third  chapter,  in  which  he  gives  us  a  picture  of  God  rejoic- 
ing over  His  people,  silent  in  His  love,  and  suddenly 
breaking  in  upon  the  silence  of  His  love  with  a  song  of 
delight.  What  revelation  of  the  heart  of  God  is  more  ex- 
quisite than  this :  the  picture  of  God  singing  for  very  joy 
over  His  people!  It  is  a  picture  of  the  motherhood  of 
God." 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets      105 


FIFTEENTH  WEEK.    A  CALL  TO  REPENTANCE. 


Seventh  Day  :  The  Book  of  Zephaniah. 

Read  the  book  through  and  note  the  following  outline ; 
make  a  brief  summary  under  each  section  : 
L  Title,  I  :i. 

IL  The  threat  of  judgment,  i  :2-i8. 
in.  The  admonition  to  repent,  2:1-3  :/. 
IV.  The  promise  to  the  faithful,  3  :8-20. 

The  Message  of  Zephaniah :  This  is  not  a  hap-hazard 
world.  God  is  in  the  midst  of  it.  He  is  a  jealous  God. 
Because  of  their  sins  and  their  indifference  all  nations  are 
to  be  devoured  by  the  fire  of  His  jealousy :  He  will  search 
the  innermost  recesses  of  the  nations  of  the  earth,  and  no 
land  shall  escape.  Nothing  that  they  possess,  no  power  of 
their  own,  will  avail  in  the  day  of  wrath  and  trouble  and 
distress  that  is  coming.  Yet  they  are  invited  to  turn  from 
their  sin  and  seek  Him,  In  the  midst  of  all  their  sensual- 
ity God  sees  good  in  them  still ;  and  if  they  will  turn  from 
their  evil  ways  and  come  back  to  Him,  He  will  receive 
them.  "  Him  that  cometh  to  Me  I  will  in  no  wise  cast 
out."  "  They  shall  feed  and  lie  down^  and  none  shall 
make  them  afraid." 

Key  thought :  A  call  to  repentance. 
Key  word :  Repent. 

"  Repentance  is  to  leave  the  sin  we  loved  before 
And  show  that  we  in  earnest  grieve  by  doing  so  no 
more." 

Key  text :  2  :3. 

Prayer  :  "  Almighty  God,  make  us  perfect  in  Christ 
Jesus ;  out  of  His  fulness  may  we  all  receive,  and  rest  in 
Him  forever  more.  May  His  passion  be  our  deliverance ; 
His  wounds  be  our  healing ;  His  cross  our  redemption ; 
and  His  death  our  life.  With  His  righteousness  may  we 
be  clothed ;  by  His  spirit  may  we  be  sanctified ;  in  His 
blood  may  we  be  cleansed ;  and  to  His  image  may  we  be 
conformed.    Amen." 


io6     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


SIXTEENTH  WEEK.    "  VENGEANCE  IS  MINE." 


First  Day:   Nahum   i:i-6.    A  God  of  Vengeance. 

I.  The  Title,  i  :i.  Note  the  double  title:  Burden  of 
Nineveh,  or  oracle  concerning  Nineveh  (margin)  ;  Book 
of  the  vision  of  Nahum. 

Ch.  I  is  an  introduction  to  the  book. 

Nothing  is  known  about  Nahum.  His  name  means 
consolation.  Even  Elkosh,  his  native  place,  is  uncertain. 
Capernaum  means  the  "  village  of  Nahum,"  and  may 
have  had  something  to  do  with  the  prophet.  See  John 
7 :52,  however,  "  Search  and  see  that  out  of  Galilee 
ariseth  no  prophet." 

G.  A.  Smith  says  Nahum  is  a  supplement  to  Jonah. 
"  Nahum's  book  is  one  great  *  at  last.'  "     Cf.  vs.  8,  9. 

He  prophesies  against  Nineveh,  a  foreign  city,  for 
the  benefit  of  Judah,  v.  15. 

What  use  would  such  a  prophecy  be  to  God's  people  ? 

He  was  speaking  in  Jerusalem. 

Date :  Nineveh  was  destroyed  in  606  B.C.  Thebes  fell 
in  663  B.C.     Nahum  prophesied  between  these  dates. 

II.  God  is  a  God  of  vengeance.    Vs.  2-6. 

What  different  descriptions  of  God's  power  does  the 
prophet  give? 

"  Let  us  place  ourselves  among  the  people  who  for  so 
long  a  time  had  been  thwarted,  crushed,  and  demoralized 
by  the  most  brutal  enemy  which  was  ever  suffered  to  roll 
its  forces  across  the  world,  and  we  shall  sympathize  with 
the  author,  who  for  the  moment  will  feel  nothing  about 
his  God  save  that  He  is  a  God  of  vengeance." 

What  character  does  Nahum  give  to  God? 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets      107 


SIXTEENTH  WEEK.    "  VENGEANCE  IS  MINE." 


Second  Day:   Nahum    1:7-15.     Enemies   Will  Be 
Punished. 

III.  Jehovah  will  destroy  the  enemies  of  His  people, 
vs.  7-15. 

Note  the  contrast  in  vs.  7  and  8,  what  God  is  to  His 
friends  and  what  He  is  to  His  enemies. 


To  whom  is  v.  14  addressed?    V.  15? 
What  is  the  meaning  of  v.  15? 

Read  Ps.  i. 


Prayer  :  "  Lord  God  omnipotent,  we  know  that  Thou 
art  a  jealous  God,  and  that  no  man  can  stand  before 
Thee  and  continue  in  unrighteousness,  but  we  praise 
Thy  name  that  Thou  art  slow  to  anger,  although  Thou 
wilt  by  no  means  clear  the  guilty.  Thou  who  rebukest 
the  sea  and  maketh  even  it  a  dry  land.  In  tenderness 
and  mercy  visit  us  and  save  us  even  from  ourselves  for 
Jesus'  sake.    Amen." 


io8     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


SIXTEENTH  WEEK.    "  VENGEANCE  IS  MINE.' 


Third   Day:    Nahum    2:1-7.    In    God's    Hands    at 

Last. 

IV.  Nineveh's  fall  2:1-3:7. 

This  is  the  prophecy  proper  to  which  what  precedes 
has  been  introductory. 

"  The  scene  now  changes  from  the  presence  and  awful 
arsenal  of  the  Almighty  to  the  historical  consummation 
of  His  vengeance." 

The  prophet  seems  to  see  the  siege  of  Nineveh,  and  he 
speaks  to  the  besieged  people. 

Notice  the  vividness  of  the  description.  Cf.  Amos 
2:4-11. 

They  are  urged  to  fortify,  v.  i,  2. 

V.  3  seems  to  describe  what  is  going  on  outside  the 
walls ;  while  v.  4  gives  a  picture  of  the  inside. 

The  warriors  are  dazed,  v.  5. 
The  city  is  captured,  vs.  6,  7. 

Nineveh  was  destroyed  by  a  flood  of  the  Tigris. 

Nineveh  stands  for  Assyria,  of  which  it  was  the  cap- 
ital. She  had  exacted  tribute  from  all  the  smaller  states 
of  western  Asia. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets     109 


SIXTEENTH  WEEK.    "  VENGEANCE  IS  MINE." 


Fourth  Day:  Nahum  2:8-13.    Destruction. 

The  siege  is  over;  the  prophet  speaks  to  the  victors. 
What  is  the  meaning  of  v.  8? 


He  commands  the  victors  to  rob  her  (v.  9),  and  they 
do  (v.  10). 

The  rulers  of  Nineveh  were  Hke  Hons  who  killed  and 
destroyed ;  they  and  theirs  shall  be  killed  and  destroyed 
now,  V.  11-13.     Cf.  3:1,  "the  bloody  city." 


"  The  world  power  which  exacted  tribute  from  all  the 
smaller  states  of  Western  Asia  was  Assyria,  with  its 
capital  at  Nineveh.  Masterful  and  ruthless  she  ruled 
them  with  a  rod  of  iron.  We  sometimes  speak  of  the 
barbarities  of  modern  warfare,  and  heaven  forbid  that 
anyone  should  seek  to  make  little  of  its  horrors.  But 
modern  warfare  is  kindness  itself  when  compared  with 
the  savage  cruelties  of  a  Sargon  or  a  Sennacherib. 
Imagine  the  fiendish  device  of  flaying  men  alive !  or  the 
inhuman  practice  of  putting  out  a  captive's  eyes!  or 
dragging  away  a  batch  of  exiles  with  a  hook  in  their 
nose !  '  How  deeply  seated  was  their  thirst  for  blood 
and  vengeance  on  an  enemy  is  exemplified  in  a  bass-relief 
which  represents  Assur-bani-pal  and  his  queen  feasting 
in  their  garden  while  the  head  of  a  conquered  Elamite 
king  hangs  from  a  tree  above.'  " 


no     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


SIXTEENTH  WEEK.    "  VENGEANCE  IS  MINE.' 


Fifth  Day:  Nahum  3:1-7.     The  Cause  of  It  All. 

The  prophet  gives  the  reasons  for  Nineveh's  down- 
fall. 

What  reason  is  assigned  in  vs.  1-3  ? 


What  reason  in  v.  4? 


What  is  God  going  to  do  to  her? 


How  many  sins  are  mentioned  here? 


"  Nineveh  vanished  from  history  totally  and  at  once — 
so  that  those  who  passed  over  its  ruins  saw  the  visible 
proofs  of  the  wrath  of  God." 

Message  for  To-day  :  "  Behold  I  am  against  thee  "  is 
ever  God's  cry  to  the  wicked ;  their  way  is  rough  be- 
cause He  is  against  them.  And  yet  God  is  ever  calling 
to  the  wicked,  "  Come  now  and  let  us  reason  together." 
"  Let  the  wicked  forsake  his  way  .  .  .  and  let  him  re- 
turn unto  our  God  .  .  .  for  He  will  abundantly  par- 
don." If  men  choose  the  rough  way,  it  is  because  they 
will  not  hear  the  loving  Father's  voice. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets      1 1 1 


SIXTEENTH  WEEK.    "  VENGEANCE  IS  MINE. 


Sixth    Day:    Nahum    3:8-19.     The    Certainty    of 
Destruction. 

This  is  Part  V  of  the  book. 
Noamon  in  v.  8  is  Thebes. 
Read  the  marginal  explanation  of  v.  8. 
What  is  meant  by  Ethiopia,  Egypt,  Put,  and  Lubin 
in  V.  9? 


What  was  the  mistake  Thebes  made? 


What  happened  to  Thebes? 
State  the  substance  of  vs.  10-13. 


What  is  meant  by  ''  TJiy  people  in  the  midst  of  thee 
are  zvomen"?    V.   13. 


Nothing  will  avail,  v.  14-17. 

What  does  v.  18  mean? 

Why  should  there  be  rejoicing  at  Nineveh's  fall? 

"  The  nature  of  Nahum's  message  is  significant 
enough.  He  proclaims  with  no  uncertain  sound  that  no 
kingdom  founded  upon  brute  force  can  ultimately  tri- 
umph. It  carries  within  its  own  structure  the  secret  of 
its  dissolution.  It  has  chosen  might  instead  of  right, 
and  violence  instead  of  equity,  and  it  needs  no  vision 
of  the  faculty  divine  to  tell  us  what  shall  be  the  end  of 
such  a  choice.  It  shall  perish  in  the  flames  of  its  own 
kindling;  and  go  down  to  the  dust  a  heap  of  shapeless 
mounds." 

"  His  language  is  strong  and  brilliant,  his  rhythm 
rumbles  and  rolls,  leaps  and  flashes  like  the  horsemen  he 
describes."  . 


1 1 2     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


SIXTEENTH  WEEK.    "  VENGEANCE  IS  MINE." 


Seventh  Day:  Nahum  Chs.  i,  2,  3. 

I.  Title,  1:1. 
II.  Jehovah  is  a  God  of  Vengeance,  i  :2-6. 

III.  God    will    destroy    the    enemies    of    his    people, 

1 :7-i5- 

IV.  Nineveh's  fall,  2:1-3:7. 

1.  The  siege  and  capture  of  the  city,  2:1-13. 

2.  The  cause  of  it  all,  3:1-7. 

V.  The  certainty  of  Nineveh's  destruction,  3 :8-i9. 

1.  She  is  not  better  than  Thebes  that  was  de- 

stroyed, 3  :8-io. 

2.  She  shall  be  destroyed,  11-13. 

3.  Nothing  will  help,  14-17. 

4.  None  will  mourn ;  all  will  rejoice,  18,  19. 

The  Message  of  Nahum :  "  Nineveh  represents  the 
haughty  glory  of  this  world.  It  recognizes  nothing  but 
its  own  selfish  grandeur.  So  the  world  hates  meek- 
ness, scorns  control,  loves  mastery,  breathes  the  spirit 
of  Nimrod  rather  than  the  spirit  of  Christ.  With  this 
our  God  shall  deal  in  terrible  judgment.  The  cities  of 
the  nations  shall  fall ;  the  thrones  that  have  resisted  the 
authority  of  Christ  and  His  word  shall  be  overturned; 
the  peoples  that  have  made  their  own  glory  all  their 
care  shall  be  utterly  wasted;  the  world  itself,  with  the 
lust  of  the  flesh,  lust  of  the  eye,  and  pride  of  life,  shall 
pass  away ;  but  they  that  do  the  will  of  God  shall  abide 
forever." 

Key  thought :  God's  vengeance  on  man's  pride. 

Key  word:  Vengeance. 

Key  texts :  i  :2.  Gal.  6  '.7. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets     113 


SEVENTEENTH    WEEK.      THE    JUST    SHALL 
LIVE   BY   FAITH. 


First  Day  :  Hab.  i  :i-ii.     God  Is  in  His  World. 

Title  1:1.  The  Burden,  or  Oracle,  which  Habakkuk 
did  see.     Cf .  2  :2. 

His  name  "  means  one  who  comforts  and  holds  up  his 
people,  as  one  embraces  a  weeping  person."     Luther. 

He  has  been  called  "  The  prophet  of  Faith."  "  Other 
prophets  attack  the  sins ;  he  is  the  first  to  state  the  prob- 
lems of  life." 

The  tradition  is  that  he  was  a  priest.  He  may  have 
been  a  Levite. 

Against  which  nation  does  he  speak  ? 

The  date  is  very  uncertain. 

Part  I.  A  dialogue  hetiveen  Jehovah  and  the  prophet: 
"  How  long  shall  the  wicked  be  allowed  to  triumph  over 
the  righteous  ?  "  chs.  i  and  2. 

The  prophet  speaks  in  vs.  2-4. 

Give  a  summary  of  what  he  says. 


What  sins  does  he  describe  ? 

In  vs.  5  to  II  we  have  God's  answer.     Paraphrase  these 

verses. 


Jehovah  is  going  to  bring  the  Chaldeans  upon  them. 


1 14     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


SEVENTEENTH    WEEK.      THE    JUST    SHALL 
LIVE   BY  FAITH. 


Second  Day  :  Hab.  i  -.12-2  :i. 

The  prophet  speaks  again. 
What  plea  does  he  make  in  v.  12? 


The  pronouns  him  and  he  in  vs.  12,  15,  16,  17  refer  to 
the  Chaldeans. 

Why  is  the  name  Rock  an  appropriate  one  for  God  ? 


The  Chaldeans  in  vs.  15-17  are  compared  to  fishermen 
who  rejoice  over  a  successful  catch.  They  may  have  been 
used  by  God  to  chastise  Israel,  but  they  exceeded  all 
bounds.     Cf.  Isa.  47 :6,  7 ;  Zech.  i  :i4,  15. 

On  2  :i  read  the  following: 

"  The  prophet  possesses  the  capacity  of  recognizing  God 
in  history.  He  feels  it  when  catastrophes  are  in  the  air. 
He  stands  on  his  watch-tower  and  spies  out  the  signs  of 
the  times,  so  as  to  interpret  them  to  his  people,  and  to 
point  out  to  them  the  right  way,  which  will  surely  guide 
them  out  of  all  danger." 

Message  for  To-day  :  "  He  sacrificeth  unto  his  net," 
V.  16.  This  is  indeed  an  old  sin.  Man,  in  his  prosperity, 
forgets  God,  and  worships  the  earthly  means  by  which  he 
has  prospered.  "  Is  not  this  great  Babylon  that  I  have 
builded  ?  "  is  the  cry  to-day  over  and  over  again. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets      1 1 5 


SEVENTEENTH    WEEK.      THE    JUST    SHALL 
LIVE   BY   FAITH. 


Third  Day:  Hab.  2:2-19.    The  Sins  of  the  Chal- 
deans. 

God  answers  :  "  Write  the  message  and  make  it  so  plain 
that  a  man  may  read  it  as  he  runs,  for  the  time  will  soon 
prove  it  to  be  true :  '  The  Chaldeans  are  proud,  they  will 
fall ;  the  righteous  man,  however  much  oppressed  now, 
shall  live  because  he  is  faithful,'  "  vs.  2-4. 

See  Paul's  use  of  2:4  in  Rom.  i  wj  \  Gal.  3  :ii. 

V.  5  describes  the  haughty  Chaldeans  and  the  nations 
they  have  destroyed ;  such  nations  will  some  day  taunt 
them  about  their  covetousness  (6-8),  their  selfishness 
(9-1 1 ),  their  unholy  passion  for  building  (12-14),  their 
delight  in  conquest  (15-17),  their  idolatry  (18,  19). 

What  does  he  say  is  the  condition  of  deliverance  ?  Vs. 
2-4. 


Memorize  v.  4. 

Message  for  To-day:  "  Wait  for  it,"  v.  3.  "A  large 
part  of  the  church's  history,  and  of  every  believer's  experi- 
ence, is  occupied  by  waiting.  The  whole  of  the  Old  Tes- 
tament was  a  waiting  for  one  dispensation.  The  whole  of 
the  New  is  waiting  for  another.  David  speaks  of  his  wait- 
ing for  God  more  than  twenty-five  times."     Cf.  3  :i6. 

"  They  also  serve,  who  only  stand  and  wait." 


ii6     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


SEVENTEENTH    WEEK.      THE    JUST    SHALL 
LIVE   BY  FAITH. 


Fourth   Day:    Hab.   3:1-7.     The   Prayer   and   its 
Answer. 

In  ch.  3  we  have  the  prophet's  prayer  in  the  form  of  a 
Psalm. 

Many  of  the  Psalms  are  prayers,  e.g.,  86,  90. 

V.  I  is  the  title. 

Shigionoth,  3:1.  The  same  word  is  used  in  the  title  of 
Ps.  7.  It  describes  the  kind  of  Psalm  or  the  musical  in- 
strument upon  which  the  accompaniment  was  played. 
Here  it  means  "  an  elegy." 

At  the  end  of  the  Psalm  is  the  musical  direction  so  fre- 
quent in  Psalms. 

The  prayer  is  really  in  v.  2. 

What  is  the  substance  of  it  ? 


Vs.  3-7  describe  God's  coming  in  a  storm,  in  response 
to  the  prayer.     Notice  the  details : 


The  word  Selah,  vs.  3,  9,  13.  This  is  a  musical  term  of 
some  kind.  It  may  mean  that  at  the  point  where  it  is 
placed  in  the  Psalm  the  music  is  to  be  louder. 

Prayer  :  "  O  Lord,  revive  Thy  zvork.  In  the  midst  of 
selfishness  and  unholy  ambition ;  in  the  midst  of  sin  and 
sorrow ;  in  the  midst  of  trial  and  temptation ;  in  the  midst 
of  our  ordinary,  every-day  life  make  Thyself  known,  re- 
vive Thy  work,  O  Lord.    Amen." 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets     1 1 7 


SEVENTEENTH    WEEK.      THE    JUST    SHALL 
LIVE   BY   FAITH. 


Fifth  Day:  Hab.  3:8-15.     God  is  Coming  to  Save 
His  People. 

Why  God  came — to  save  His  people.     "  Thou  shalt 
call  His  name  Jesus,  for  He  shall  save  His  people.'' 
Make  a  summary  of  these  verses. 


Notice  the  following  familiar  verses  in  Habakkuk: 
2:4;  1:13;  1:5;  2:20;  3:2. 

Memorize  2  :20. 

Referring  to  the  study  of  the  second  day  of  the  fifth 
week,  notice  that  the  Fifth  Division  of  Old  Testament 
History  is  The  Chosen  Nation  Reconstructed  as  a  Jeivish 
Church.     I  and  2  Chron.,  Ezra  and  Nehemiah. 

Who  and  what  were  the  Chaldeans? 


1 1 8     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


SEVENTEENTH    WEEK.      THE    JUST    SHALL 
LIVE   BY  FAITH. 


Sixth  Day:  Hab.  3:16-19.     The  Effect  of  the  Rev- 
elation ON  the  Prophet. 

V.  16.  "  Fear,  excited  by  the  threatenings  of  God, 
issues  in  '  rest '  followed  by  the  mercies  of  God." 

Under  what  circvimstances  does  the  prophet  say  he 
will  rejoice?     Vs.  17,  18. 


What  is  it  that  causes  his  rejoicing? 


Have  you  ever  rejoiced  under  such  circumstances? 

Prayer  :  "  Grant,  Almighty  God,  as  the  dullness  and 
hardness  of  our  flesh  is  so  great  that  it  is  needful  for 
us  in  various  ways  to  be  afflicted — Oh,  grant  that  we 
patiently  bear  Thy  chastisement,  and  under  a  deep  feel- 
ing of  sorrow  flee  to  Thy  mercy  displayed  to  us  in  Christ, 
so  that  we  may  depend  not  on  the  earthly  blessings  of 
this  perishable  life,  but  relying  on  Thy  word  go  forward  in 
the  course  of  our  calling,  until  at  length  we  be  gathered 
to  that  blessed  rest  which  is  laid  up  for  us  in  heaven, 
through  Christ  our  Lord.  Amen." — Calvin's  Exposition 
of  Habakkuk. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets      119 


SEVENTEENTH    WEEK.      THE    JUST    SHALL 
LIVE   BY   FAITH. 


Seventh  Day  :  Hab.  Chs.  1,2,  3. 

Read  the  book  through.  "  Speaking  for  myself,  as  a 
student  of  world  literature,  I  do  not  know  to  what  I  should 
turn  for  specimens  of  literary  perfection  rather  than  to  the 
rhapsodies  of  Habakkuk  and  Joel." 

The  book  has  been  condensed  as  follows  : 

Prophet:  O  Lord!  the  wickedness  of  our  times,  i  :i-4. 

God:  I  will  bring  the  Chaldeans,  i  :5-ii. 

Prophet:  O  Lord!  the  desolation  of  the  arrogant  Chal- 
deans, I  :i2-2  :i. 

God:  The  fivefold  woe  against  Chaldea,  2 :2-i9. 

Prayer:  "  A  choral  echo,  anthem  of  praise  to  the  God 
who  comes  to  judge  and  save,"  3  :i-i9. 

The  Message  of  Habakkuk :  "  As  he  brooded  over  these 
desolating  thoughts,  as  he  looked  out  on  a  day  of  the  Lord, 
which  was  a  day  of  clouds  and  thick  darkness  ;  the  light  of 
truth  dawned  on  the  soul  of  the  troubled  Levite ;  and  for 
himself,  for  his  nation,  for  all  time  it  was  granted  him  to 
see  at  least  in  germ,  and  to  set  forth  at  least  in  outline  the 
two  great  truths  upon  which,  as  on  the  great  main  pillars 
of  a  temple,  the  consolations  of  this  life  must  rest :  i.  God 
is  the  Lord.     2.  The  righteous  shall  live  by  faith." 

Key  thougHt :  The  just  shall  live  by  faith. 

Key  word :  Faith. 

Key  text :  2  4. 


I20     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


EIGHTEENTH    WEEK.     "THE    CURSE    OF 
COWARDICE." 


First  Day:  Obadiah  1-9.     Edom's  Punishment. 

I.  Title,  i:ia. 

What  does  he  mean  by  vision  f    V.  i. 


Who  was  Obadiah? 


Nothing  is  said  about  the  date. 

"  This  Httle  book  has  been  tossed  out  of  one  century 
into  another  by  successive  critics,  till  there  exists  in  their 
estimates  of  its  date  a  difference  of  nearly  600  years." 

He  seems  to  quote  Joel  1:15;  3:17;  2:32;  Amos  9:12. 
About  whom  does  he  speak? 


To  whom  is  he  speaking? 

Edom  has  been  called  "  That  bitter  brother  of  Israel." 
Why?     Cf.  V,  10.     Gen.  32:3.     Numb.  20:21. 


II.  Destruction  of  Edom,  i  :i&-i6. 
a.  Obadiah  foretells  her  punishment  in  vs.  1&-9. 

"  O,  thou  that  divellest  in  the  clefts  of  the  rock"  v.  3. 
"  The  Biblical  World  "  for  November,  1901,  contains  pict- 
ures of  these  very  rocks.  "  Let  him  that  thinketh  he 
standeth  take  heed  lest  he  fall." 

What  does  he  mean  by  vs.  5  and  6? 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets      121 


EIGHTEENTH    WEEK.      "THE    CURSE    OF 
COWARDICE." 


Second  Day:  Obadiah    10-14.     Why  God  is  Going 
TO  Punish  Edom. 

b.  Reasons  for  punishment,  10-14.    What  are  they? 
How  was  Edom  Jacob's  brother?    V.  10. 
Of  what  sin  does  the  prophet  accuse  them? 


Compare  Obadiah  with  Jer.  49:7-22,  and  notice  the 
similarity. 

According  to  Obadiah,  sometimes  it  is  a  sin  to  be 
neutral :  not  to  do  anything  when  something  ought  to 
be  done  is  a  sin.  It  is  the  sin  of  the  Laodiceans  (Rev. 
3:15,  16).  It  is  the  sin  of  indifference,  which  is  so  com- 
mon among  men  to-day.  Let  us  see  to  it  that  it  is  not 
our  sin. 

Read  Ps.  2. 

"  The  prophecy  of  Obadiah  has  always  been  a  special 
favorite  with  the  Jews.  They  realize,  what  indeed  is 
plain,  that  the  prophecy  has  yet  to  receive  its  true  fulfill- 
ment ;  and  they  see  in  it  a  typical  reference  to  Rome. 
To  them  the  JEdomites  represent  Christians,  at  whose 
hands  in  earlier  days  they  suffered  so  terribly." 


122     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


EIGHTEENTH    WEEK.     "THE    CURSE    OF 
COWARDICE." 


Third  Day:  Obadiah   15-21.  Punishment  and  Res- 
toration. 

Compare  Lam.  4:21,  22. 

c.  Their  punishment,  15-16. 
What  does  he  mean  by  the  day  of  Jehovah?     Cf.  mar- 
ginal references. 


Note  the  word  "  drunk  "  in  prophecy.     What  does  it 
mean?    Cf.  Isa.  63:6;  Jer.  51 157. 


III.  Promise  of  Restoration,  vs.  17-21. 
This  ending  is  frequent  in  the  Minor  Prophets.     Cf. 
Amos  9:11  et  seq. ;  Joel  ^:iS  et  seq. 

House  of  Esau,  v.  18.     Who  is  referred  to  here? 


Locate  on  the  map  the  places  referred  to  in  vs.  19-20. 

The  prophets  always  rest  the  truth  of  what  they  say 
on  the  fact  that  it  is  God's  word :  "  Jehovah  hath  spoken 
it,"  V.  18. 


Message  for  To-day  :  "  The  house  of  Jacob  shall  pos- 
sess its  possessions."  Really  owning  what  we  have. 
How  many  good  things  we  have  and  yet  we  do  not  pos- 
sess them.  So  many  of  the  rich  gifts  which  have  come 
to  us — liberty,  opportunity,  the  open  Bible,  the  heritage 
of  the  past,  health — are  not  fully  possessed  because  we 
are  always  wanting  something  else.  Let  us  possess  our 
possessions  and  enjoy  them. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets      123 


EIGHTEENTH    WEEK.     "THE    CURSE    OF 
COWARDICE." 


Fourth  Day:  Obadiah. 

Read  the  Book  of  Obadiah  through. 
Write  opposite  the  following  divisions  of  the  book  the 
verses  covered  by  each. 
I.  Title. 

II.  Destruction  of  Edom. 

a.  Punishment  foretold. 

b.  Reasons  for  punishment. 

c.  Their  punishment. 
III.  Promise  of  Restoration. 

Key  thought :  The  curse  of  cowardice. 

Key  word:  Edom. 

Key  text:  21. 

The  Message  of  Obadiah :  "  The  Spirit  of  greed  and 
cruelty  is  forever  hateful  to  Jehovah,  and  so  surely  as 
any  nation  is  actuated  thereby  in  her  dealings  with  other 
nations,  by  the  Nemesis  of  God's  judgments,  so  shall  she 
perish  sooner  or  later." 


124     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


EIGHTEENTH    WEEK.     "THE    CURSE    OF 
COWARDICE." 


Fifth  Day:  Obadiah  1-21. 

"  The  kingdom  shall  he  Jehovah's,"  v.  21. 
Who  were  the  Patriarchs? 


Famiharize  yourself  with  the  following:  Abraham 
was  called  to  leave  his  country  and  to  found  a  new 
nation.     Read  the  promise  to  him,  Gen.  12:1. 

His  two  sons  were  Isaac  and  Ishmael. 

Isaac's  two  sons  were  Jacob  and  Esau. 

The  Twelve  Tribes  came  from  Jacob:  Edom  and 
Moab  came  from  Esau. 

Make  a  list  of  the  Twelve  Tribes.    See  Gen.  35  :23-26. 


Which  ones  became   Israel,   the   Northern   Kingdom, 
and  which  became  Judah,  the  Southern  Kingdom? 


Prayer  :  "  Lord  Jesus,  help  us  to  be  brave ;  when  Thy 
cause  needs  my  help  may  I  fearlessly  give  it.  Thou 
didst  bear  all  things  for  me :  everywhere  Thou  wert 
brave,  give  to  me  Thy  bravery.  May  I  stand  up  for 
Thee  in  the  midst  of  all  surroundings,  and  by  my  testi- 
mony lead  others  to  Thee.    Amen." 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets      125 


EIGHTEENTH    WEEK.      "  THE    CURSE    OF 
COWARDICE." 


Sixth  Day:  Ezek.  2:1-8  and  33:1-9. 

In  507  B.C.  began  the  Babylonian  captivity,  when  the 
ehte  of  Judah  were  carried  away  by  Nebuchadnezzar 
(2  Kings  24:10-16).  Among  these  captives  was  the 
prophet  Ezekiel  (Ezek.  1:2,  3),  who  continued  for 
twenty  years  to  speak  to  his  people.  At  first  his  theme 
was  the  coming  destruction  of  Jerusalem.  This  fills 
twenty-four  chapters  of  his  book.  (Cf.  4:16;  5:12; 
6:6;  24:9.) 

The  people  would  not  hear ;  Jerusalem  was  destroyed 
in  586.  Then  he  began  a  series  of  prophecies,  filled 
with  promises  of  restoration  (33:11;  36:11;  37:14), 
closing  his  book  with  his  great  vision  of  the  *'  New 
Jerusalem  "  (chs.  40-48). 

Ezekiel's  message  was  fivefold:  God's  majesty,  Israel's 
apostasy,  judgments  on  the  heathen  nations,  Israel's  res- 
toration, and  the  final  consummation  of  the  Kingdom  of 
Peace. 

Add  any  further  facts  you  may  have  learned  about 
Ezekiel. 


126     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


EIGHTEENTH    WEEK.      "THE    CURSE    OF 
COWARDICE." 


Seventh  Day:  Ps.  126,  137.    The  Exile. 

One  of  the  greatest  events  in  the  history  of  Israel  is 
the  Babylonian  exile,  when  the  people  of  Judah  were 
carried  away  from  Jerusalem  by  the  Babylonians  into  a 
strange  land.  Exile  was  a  means  used  to  subdue  rebel- 
lious tribes,  and  had  been  used  in  'J22  b.c,  when  the 
Assyrians  transported  the  Ten  Tribes  of  Israel  from 
Samaria  (2  Kings  17:1-6,  20).  The  result  was  that 
they  disappeared.  So  in  596  B.C.  the  people  of  Judah 
were  carried  away  (2  Kings  25:1-12),  an  event  of 
which  the  prophets  had  often  spoken  and  which  the 
people  dreaded  (Jer.  13:19,  40:3).  Its  effect  upon 
them  is  described  in  the  137th  Psalm.  The  book  of 
Daniel  gives  an  account  of  some  of  the  captives.  After 
the  discipline  of  the  captivity  they  were  restored  to  their 
land.     Ezra  i ;  Ps.  126. 

Read  Jer,  19:5-7  and  state  what  we  learn  here  about 
the  condition  of  the  captives. 

Message  for  To-day  :  "  Observe  how  God  punished 
His  ancient  people.  Look  at  Judah  sitting  amid  the  ruins 
of  Jerusalem ;  her  temple  without  a  worshipper  and  her 
streets  choked  with  the  dead ;  look  at  that  bound,  weep- 
ing, bleeding  remnant  of  a  nation,  toiling  on  its  way  to 
Babylon,  and  may  I  not  warn  you  with  the  apostle : 
*  If  God  spared  not  the  natural  branches,  take  heed  lest 
He  spare  not  thee  ?'  " 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets      127 


NINETEENTH    WEEK.      ARISE    AND    BUILD. 


First  Day:  Haggai  1:1-6.     The  Reprimand. 

This  book  falls  into  four  addresses.  The  First  Address 
is  ch.   1:1-15.     ^^'^  Call  to  Build. 

The  first  prophet  of  the  Restoration.     Read  Ezra,  chs. 

1-3- 

Where  was  Haggai  speaking? 

Fix  the  date  of  the  book  from  1:1.  Cf.  Zech.  1:1. 
For  the  first  time  a  date  is  fixed  by  the  reign  of  a  heathen 
king. 

He  speaks  to  the  head  of  the  civil  as  well  as  the 
ecclesiastical  government. 

Notice  from  Ezra  i  that  God  had  moved  Cyrus  to 
permit  the  Jewish  captives  to  go  back  to  Jerusalem 
for  the  purpose  of  rebuilding  the  temple  and  a  large 
number  returned    (2:64-67). 

This  was  in  536  B.C.  When  Haggai  is  speaking,  it  is 
the  second  year  of  Darius,  520  B.C.  They  had  returned 
to  build  the  temple:  sixteen  years  had  elapsed,  and  still 
it  had  not  been  rebuilt.  "  At  this  crisis  appeared  an 
aged  and  venerable  man,  Haggai,  who  had  seen  with 
his  own  eyes  the  old  temple  and  the  old  Jerusalem,  and 
who  must  therefore  have  been  in  his  seventies,  with 
words  of  warning  and  exhortation." 

Who  was  the  governor  of  Judah? 

What  did  the  people  say?     V.  2. 

What  accusation  does  the  prophet  bring  against 
them?     V.  4. 

When  had  the  temple  been  destroyed?     V.  4. 

What  was  the  result  of  neglecting  their  duty?     V.  6. 

Memorize  v.  6. 

Message  for  To-day:  God  called  them  out  of  cap- 
tivity to  rebuild  His  home;  they  did  not  do  it  and  did 
not  prosper.  How  long  ago  did  He  call  you  out  of  the 
captivity  of  sin?  Have  you  since  then  been  helping  to 
establish  His  kingdom  ?    That  is  what  He  called  you  for. 


128     ,The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


NINETEENTH     WEEK.    ARISE     AND     BUILD. 


Second  Day:  Haggai  1:7-11.    The  Command. 
What  does  he  mean  by  consider  your  ways?     V.  7« 

What  command  is  given  them?    V.  8. 

What  was  their  condition  and  what  had  caused  it? 
Vs.  9-1 1. 


Make  a  summary  of  vs.  4-1 1. 

Someone  has  said  there  are  seven  disappointments  in 
vs.  6-9.     What  are  they? 

We  can  imagine  the  state  of  affairs:  They  had  been 
permitted  to  return  to  Jerusalem  for  the  express  pur- 
pose of  rebuilding  the  temple.  They  had  laid  the  foun- 
dations, and  now  they  were  using  for  their  own  comfort- 
able houses  the  material  which  should  have  gone  into 
the  temple.  They  have  their  homes.  God's  home  lies 
waste. 

"  Build  thee  more  stately  mansions,  O  my  soul, 

As  the  swift  seasons  roll ! 

Leave  thy  low-vaulted  past ! 
Let  each  new  temple,  nobler  than  the  last, 
Shut  thee  from  heaven  with  a  dome  more  vast, 

Till  thou  at  length  art  free, 
Leaving  thine  outgrown  shell  by  life's  unresting  sea  1 " 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets     129 


NINETEENTH     WEEK.    ARISE     AND     BUILD. 


Third  Day:  Haggai  i  :i2-i5.    Effect  of  the  Address. 
What  do  they  do?    Vs.  12,  14. 

What  is  Jehovah's  response  to  their  actions?     V.  13. 

Why  did  the  people  obey  Haggai's  words?     V.  12. 

What  is  Haggai  called  in  v.  13? 

What  is  the  meaning  of  the  word  "  spirit "  in  v.  14? 


Message  for  To-day:  It  was  the  voice  of  God, 
though  the  words  were  Haggai's,  v.  12.  May  our  prayer 
be  that  men  may  hear  God  when  we  speak ;  He  does 
speak  through  men  to-day,  why  not  through  you? 


130     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


NINETEENTH     WEEK.    ARISE     AND     BUILD. 


Fourth  Day:  Haggai  2:1-9.    Encouragement. 

Second  Address.     2:1-9.     Courage. 
How  much  later  than  the  First  Address? 


This  shows  us  how  long  they  had  been  working  on 
the  temple. 

To  whom  does  he  speak? 


Why  "  remnant  of  the  people  "  ?    V.  2. 
What  is  the  meaning  of  v.  3  ?     Cf .  v.  9. 


How  long  ago  had  the  first  temple  been  destroyed? 

Notice  in  v.  4  "  be  strong,"  "  be  strong,"  "  be  strong," 
"  and  work,"  "  for  I  am  with  you." 

He  promises  them  that  all  nations  shall  contribute  to 
the  glory  of  the  new  temple,  vs.  6,  7. 

Why  can  he  do  this  ?     V.  8. 


How   is  the  new   temple  to  compare  with  the  old? 

V.9. 

Make  a  brief  summary  of  this  Second  Address. 


Message  for  To-day:  "This  house  in  its  former 
glory  .  .  .  the  latter  glory  of  this  house,"  3,  9.  "  Then 
there  are  more  people  who  are  always  lamenting  the 
departed  greatness  of  spiritual  power ;  they  cry  for  an- 
other good  old-fashioned  revival  like  that  under  Moody." 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets      131 


NINETEENTH     WEEK.     ARISE     AND     BUILD. 


Fifth  Day:  Haggai  2:10-19.     "The  Power  of  the 
Unclean." 

This  is  the  Third  Address. 

How  long  after  the  First  Address  was  this  one  deHv- 
ered? 


They  are  still  building,  v.  15. 

For  the  reason  of  v.  11,  read  Dent.  17:8,  9. 

In  Lev.  6:27  it  is  provided  that  anything  touched  by 
holy  flesh  shall  be  holy,  so  Haggai  says :  "  If  holy  flesh, 
by  touching  a  garment,  make  it  holy,  will  the  garment 
make  holy  what  it  touches  ?  "     What  is  the  answer  ? 


Why  are  the  Ten  Commandments  still  effective,  but 
not  the  Levitical  law? 


What  is  the  substance  of  v.  13? 


Application :  Their  holy  offerings  were  not  contagious : 
their  uncleanness  was,  v.  14.  Sin  seems  to  be  con- 
tagious, while  goodness  is  not. 

What  does  v.  16  mean? 


What    was    their    condition    before    and    after    their 
obedience?     Vs.  15-19. 


132     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


NINETEENTH     WEEK.    ARISE     AND     BUILD. 


Sixth  Day:  Haggai  2:20-23.     I  Will  Bless  Thee. 

This  is  the  Fourth  Address. 

Notice  each  time  whose  word  it  is:  1:1;  2:1;  2:10; 
2 :20.     The  prophet  is  only  the  agent. 
When  was  this  address  dehvered  ? 


To  Zerubbabel :  one  of  the  ancestors  of  Jesus.     Matt. 
I  :i2. 
What  does  he  mean  by  "/  will  shake  "?    V.  21. 


Write  out  the  substance  of  this  short  address. 


What  is  the  meaning  of  "signet"?    V.  23.     Cf. -Au- 
thorized Version. 

Notice  the  seven  "  I  wills  "  of  God  in  Haggai  1:8  (2)  ; 
2:6;  2:7,  9;  2:22;  2:23. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets     133 


NINETEENTH     WEEK.    ARISE     AND     BUILD. 


Seventh  Day:  Haggai  Chs.  i,  2.     Ps.  127. 

I.  First  Address:  The  Call  to  Build,  1:1-15. 
II.  Second  Address:  Courage,  2:1-9. 

III.  Third  Address :  "  The  Power  of  the  Unclean," 
2:10-19. 

IV.  Fourth  Address :  I  Will  Bless  Thee,  2  :20-23. 

Key  thought :  Be  strong  and  work. 

"  Be  strong ! 
We  are  not  here  to  play,  to  dream,  to  drift. 
We  have  hard  work  to  do,  and  loads  to  lift. 
Shun  not  the  struggle ;  face  it.     'Tis  God's  gift." 

Key  word :  Build. 
Key  text :  i  :8. 

"  Too  often  men  still  say,  '  The  time  has  not  come.' 
How  many  people  are  not  doing  what  they  ought  be- 
cause they  are  waiting  for  some  set  time." 

A  student  once  went  to  the  president  of  his  univer- 
sity and  declared  his  determination  to  enter  the  minis- 
try, when  he  had  finished  his  course.  The  reply  came, 
"  Why  not  enter  it  now  ?  " 

The  Message  of  Haggai :  The  sum  of  Haggai's  four 
addresses  is  briefly:  "Why  do  you  permit  God's  home 
to  lie  waste,  while  you  beautify  your  own?  Rise  up 
and  build !  This  temple  which  you  now  build,  small 
though  it  may  seem  now,  will  rival  the  former  in  its 
beauty.  Go  on  with  your  work ;  God  punishes  you  now 
because  of  your  self-seeking  worldliness,  but  He  will 
bless  you.  He  has  chosen  you  as  His  peculiar  treasure." 
What  a  message  for  this  time  of  selfishness  and  com- 
mercial strife! 


134     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TWENTIETH   WEEK.     VISIONS   OF  ENCOUR- 
AGEMENT. 


First  Day  :  Zech.  i  :i-6.     Repent. 

Note  the  absence  of  the  usual  title. 

Zechariah  was  a  member  of  the  priestly  family  of  Iddo, 
V.  I,  one  of  the  priests  who  returned  to  Jerusalem  after 
the  captivity.  Cf.  Neh.  12:4,  Here  he  is  called  a 
prophet,  in  Neh.  he  is  called  a  priest. 

Date :  After  the  return  from  exile.  The  eighth  month 
in  the  second  year  of  Darius,  v.  i,  was  November,  520  b.c. 
Notice  that  other  dates  are  given  for  other  parts  of  the 
book,  I  7;  7:1. 

He  was  a  contemporary  of  Haggai,  cf.  i  :i  and  Hag. 
1:1. 

To  whom  did  he  speak  ?    Ezra  5:1,6,  14. 

Whether  Zechariah  wrote  all  of  this  book  has  been 
much  discussed.  The  discussion  arose  years  ago  (1638), 
when  it  was  noticed  that  Zech.  11  :i2,  13  was  quoted  by 
Matt.  27:9  as  from  Jeremiah. 

"  The  conclusion  therefore  at  which  it  seems  not  un- 
reasonable to  arrive  is  that,  while  we  hold  ourselves  open 
to  give  candid  consideration  to  any  fresh  argument  that 
may  be  adduced,  we  have  not  as  yet  sufficient  ground  for 
relinquishing  the  ancient  and  tenable  belief  that  the  book 
of  Zechariah  is  throughout  the  work  of  the  author  whose 
name  it  bears." 

The  book  falls  into  three  parts:  Chs.  1-8,  9-1 1,  and 
12-14. 

Part  I.  Visions  and  Fasts,  chs.  1-8. 
I.  Introduction,  1:1-6. 

What  is  the  invitation  of  v.  3  ? 

What  promise  is  made  in  v.  3  ? 

What  example  is  set  before  them  ? 

Use  the  marginal  references  for  further  information. 

To  what  argument  does  the  prophet  appeal  in  vs.  4-6  ? 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets     135 


TWENTIETH   WEEK.     VISIONS   OF  ENCOUR- 
AGEMENT. 


Second  Day  :  Zech.  i  7-17.    The  Vision  of  the  Mes- 
sengers. 

2.  Eight  visions,  i  7-6 :8. 

These  were  for  the  encouragement  of  Zerubbabel  and 
Joshua  in  rebuilding  the  temple.  They  were  disappointed 
that  God  had  not  revealed  Himself  when  they  returned  to 
Jerusalem,  i  :i6,  17. 

First  Vision:  Four  horsemen. 

Notice  the  date,  v.  7,  some  months  later. 

What  did  the  prophet  see  ? 


What  were  these  horsemen  ?    V.  10. 

What  report  did  they  bring  back?     V.  11. 
What  did  they  mean  by  their  report  ? 

What  was  the  angel's  question  in  v.  12? 

"  Three  score  and  ten  years,"  v.  12,  refer  to  what? 

What  is  the  Lord's  answer  ? 

How  would  this  encourage  Zerubbabel  and  Joshua? 


Message  for  To-day  :  God  is  in  His  world.  It  seems 
sometimes  as  if  the  spirit  of  evil  was  in  control,  but  the 
messengers  of  God  are  going  about ;  He  knows  what  is 
being  done.  "  The  Lord  shall  yet  comfort  Zion."  Let  us 
not  be  discouraged. 


136     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TWENTIETH   WEEK.     VISIONS   OF   ENCOUR- 
AGEMENT. 


Third  Day  :  Zech.  i  :i8-2i.    Destruction  of  Enemies. 

Second  Vision:  Four  horns  and  four  smiths. 
Horns,  v.  18.     The  horn  was  a  symbol  of  honor,  Job 
16:15,  and  of  power.    Jer.  48:25;  Amos  6:13. 
What  four  nations  are  thought  to  be  referred  to  ? 


It  seems  better  to  take  "  four  horns  "  to  mean  enemies 
on  all  sides,  rather  than  particular  nations. 
Who  is  referred  to  by  the  smiths  ? 


What  is  intended  in  the  use  of  the  three  names  in  v.  19? 


What  effect  would  such  a  vision  have  ? 


Read  Ps.  75. 

Prayer  :  "  O  Almighty  God,  the  Supreme  Governor  of 
all  things,  whose  power  no  creature  is  able  to  resist,  to 
whom  it  belongeth  justly  to  punish  sinners,  and  to  be 
merciful  to  those  who  truly  repent,  save  and  deliver  us, 
we  humbly  beseech  Thee,  from  the  hands  of  our  enemies ; 
that  we,  being  armed  with  Thy  defence,  may  be  preserved 
ever  more  from  all  perils,  to  glorify  Thee,  who  art  the 
only  giver  of  all  victory ;  through  the  merits  of  Thy  Son, 
Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.    Amen." 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets      137 


TWENTIETH   WEEK.     VISIONS    OF  ENCOUR- 
AGEMENT. 


Fourth  Day  :  Zech.  2:1-5.     The  City  of  Peace. 

Third  Vision :  The  man  with  the  measuring  Hne. 
What  does  the  measuring  of  Jerusalem  mean  ? 


Jerusalem  is  to  have  a  time  when  they  will  not  need 
walls  to  keep  out  enemies.  What  kind  of  a  time  would 
that  be  ? 


On  "villages  without  avails,"  see  Ezek.  38:11. 
Who  is  to  be  her  protector  ? 


What  would  be  the  effect  of  this  vision  ? 


Message  for  To-day  :  "  Run  speak  to  this  young  man," 
V.  4.  What  a  message  for  the  members  of  our  Associa- 
tions !  It  comes  ringing  down  the  ages  from  the  lips  of 
our  great  Captain.  But  how  laggard  we  are ;  how  slowly 
we  move ;  how  we  hesitate  and  hold  back  and  make  ex- 
cuse. O  men,  run  is  the  command,  run,  speak — for  the 
young  man  is  waiting  to  hear  and  the  young  man  is  your 
brother. 


138     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TWENTIETH   WEEK.     VISIONS   OF  ENCOUR- 
AGEMENT. 


Fifth  Day  :  Zech.  2 :6-i3.     Come  Back. 

This  is  a  lyric  piece  interrupting  the  visions ;  what 
would  you  say  was  its  subject? 


Babylon  is  to  be  destroyed,  vs.  6-9. 

A  call  to  rejoice  because  God  is  going  to  be  with  them, 
10-13. 

Note  the  missionary  promise  in  v.  ii.  Cf.  9:10;  Jonah 
4:11;  Joel  2:28;  3:2. 


Message  for  To-day  :  "  He  that  toucheth  you  toucheth 
the  apple  of  His  eye,"  v.  8.  It  does  seem  as  if  God  could 
not  find  language  strong  enough  to  describe  the  tender- 
ness and  love  He  has  for  His  people.  He  is  as  sensitive  to 
His  people's  conditions  as  a  man  is  to  that  most  delicate 
organ  of  his  body — the  eye.  Can't  you  endure  more 
heroically  when  you  remember  that  God  feels  it  too  ? 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets      139 


TWENTIETH   WEEK.     VISIONS   OF  ENCOUR- 
AGEMENT. 


Sixth  Day  :  Zech.  3  :i-5.     The  Vision  Itself. 

Fourth  Vision:  The  high  priest  and  Satan,  cf.  Job.  i  :6. 
What  did  the  prophet  see  ? 


Note  that  Satan  is  a  person.    Cf.  Matt.  4:10. 
What  is  referred  to  by  "  a  brand  "  in  v.  2?    What  by 
''the  fire"? 


Joshua,  the  high  priest,  clothed  in  filthy  garments,  sym- 
bols of  sin.     Isa.  64 :6. 

The  high  priest  bore  the  people's  sins.  "  In  such  a  high 
priest  Christian  theology  has  seen  the  prototype  of 
Christ." 

What  command  is  given  in  vs.  4,  5  ? 


This  is  symbolical  of  the  restoration  of  the  priesthood. 
Religious  obstacles  were  to  be  taken  out  of  the  way. 

The  putting  on  of  clean  garments  has  always  been  a 
type  of  change  from  sin  to  purity.  See  the  stronger  figure 
used  by  Paul  in  Rom.  13  :i4. 


140      The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TWENTIETH   WEEK.     VISIONS   OF  ENCOUR- 
AGEMENT. 


Seventh  Day  :  Zech.  3 :6-io.     The  Promise  of  a  King. 

Fourth  Vision  (continued)  : 

"  To  render  judgment,  in  the  place  of  God,  was  part  of 
the  high  priest's  office,"  Deut.  17:8-11. 
What  was  the  high  priest  to  do  ?     V.  7. 

"  Them  that  stand  by/'  v.  7,  cf.  v.  4.  The  purified 
Joshua  was  to  have  a  place  among  the  angels  of  God  and 
have  access  to  God,  cf.  Ps.  66  :i8.  Can  it  be  that  some  of 
your  prayers  are  not  answered  because  you  are  not  in  this 
condition  ? 

V.  8.  "  To  Joshua  and  his  fellows  I  foretell  the  coming 
of  '  my  servant,  Branch,'  because  they,  the  priesthood  in 
all  their  office  and  ministry,  as  well  as  in  what  has  just 
happened  to  them  in  the  vision  in  the  person  of  their  chief, 
are  types  of  Him." 

"  My  servant  "  is  a  frequent  name  of  Messiah  in  Isaiah. 
See  also  Acts  3:13;  4:27,  30,  where  Servant  is  a  proper 
name. 

This  is,  of  course,  a  clear  prophecy  of  a  coming  Messiah. 

What  is  meant  by  "the  stone"  in  v.  9?  Cf.  6:12; 
4  7,  9 ;  Eph.  2 :20. 

What  does  v.  10  mean? 


"  We  are  told  in  the  Talmud  that  wHen,  on  the  great 
day  of  Atonement,  the  high  priest  had  performed  the 
various  duties  of  that  solemn  day,  he  was  escorted  home 
in  a  festive  manner,  and  was  accustomed  to  give  a  festal 
entertainment  to  his  friends.  The  maidens  and  youths  of 
the  people  went  forth  to  their  gardens  and  vineyards  with 
songs  and  dances ;  social  entertainments  took  place  on  all 
sides  and  universal  gladness  closed  the  festival  of  that  sol- 
emn day." 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets      141 


TWENTY-FIRST  WEEK.     GOD  REIGNS. 


First  Day  :  Zech.  4  :i-i4.     Not  by  Might  nor  Power. 

Fifth  Vision:  The  Golden  Candlestick  and  the  Olive 
Trees. 

What  did  the  prophet  see  ?    Vs.  1-5. 


Why  seven  i 


Connect  vs.  3  and  12. 

G.  A.  Smith  says  of  vs.  7-9 :  "  It  is  one  of  the  greatest 
sayings  of  the  Old  Testament,  there  is  none  more  spiritual 
and  more  comforting." 

These  were  words  of  encouragement  to  Zechariah. 

Some  have  supposed  that  by  the  two  olive  trees  Zerub- 
babel  and  Shealtiel  were  meant.  It  seems  more  probable 
that  they  merely  indicate  a  generous  source  of  supply. 
Here,  again,  care  must  be  taken  not  to  press  the  imagery 
of  the  vision  too  far. 

How  would  this  vision  encourage  them  ? 


Message  for  To-day  :  "  Not  by  might  nor  by  an  army, 
but  by  my  spirit."  If  we  could  only  learn  that  this  is 
God's  way!  We  seek  to  conquer  by  an  army.  How 
quietly  all  the  mighty  processes  of  nature  work.  Cf.  i 
Kings  19:11,  12. 

Memorize  Zech.  4:6,  last  clause. 


i4-'2-     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TWENTY-FIRST  WEEK.     GOD  REIGNS. 


Second  Day:  Zech.  5:1-4.    The  Curse  of  God. 

Sixth  Vision:  The  flying  roll. 
What  did  the  prophet  see?     Vs.  i,  2. 


What  would  it  look  like  to  him  ? 


How  large  was  the  roll  in  feet  and  inches  ? 

The  roll  symbolizes  the  curse  of  God  going  over  the 
earth.     Notice  that  only  the  wicked  are  hurt  by  it,  vs.  3,  4. 

"  Be  sure  your  sin  will  find  you  out." 

How  would  this  encourage  Zerubbabel  ? 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets     143 


TWENTY-FIRST  WEEK.     GOD  REIGNS. 


Third  Day:  Zech,  5  :5-ii.    Wickedness. 

Seventh  Vision:  The  woman  in  a  barrel. 
Describe  in  your  own  words  what  the  prophet  saw. 


Ephah,  V.  6 ;  cf .  Amos  8 :5  ;  Lev.  19 :36. 

Talent  of  lead,  v.  7.     Marg.  round  piece. 

The  woman  is  said  to  be  a  personification  of  wickedness. 

Wickedness  is  carried  out  of  the  land. 

Why  "  to  the  land  of  Shinar  "?    V.  11. 


"In  her  own  place"  v,  11.    There  is  a  place  for  the 
wicked. 


What  encouragement  would  Zerubbabel  get  out  of  this 
vision  ? 


Prayer  :  "  Our  blessed  Lord,  we  thank  Thee  that  Thou 
hast  prepared  a  place  for  those  who  love  and  serve  Thee. 
We  know  that  every  one  shall  go  to  his  own  place  ;  grant, 
we  beseech  Thee,  that  our  place  may  be  with  Thee  forever. 
Amen." 


144     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TWENTY-FIRST  WEEK.     GOD  REIGNS. 


Fourth  Day:  Zech.  6:i-8.     Messengers  of  Wrath. 
Eighth  Vision:  The  chariots  of  the  Four  Winds. 

What  did  the  prophet  see  ? 


The  imagery  of  this  vision  must  not  be  too  closely 
pressed.  The  interpreting  angel  gives  a  very  general  in- 
terpretation of  the  vision.  "  It  apparently  signifies  the 
swift  and  mighty  engines  of  destruction  (four  in  number, 
like  'the  winds  of  heaven'),  which  fall  with  twofold 
vengeance  (v.  6)  on  Babylon,  the  latest  enemy  of  Israel, 
while  they  execute  wrath  also  upon  Egypt,  her  earlier 
oppressor,  and  thus  cause  that  '  shaking  of  all  nations,' 
which  was  the  promised  precursor  of  good."    Hag.  2  :y. 

"  As  the  series  of  visions  opened  with  one  of  the  uni- 
versal providence  of  God,  so  they  close  with  another  of 
the  same.  The  first  vision  had  postponed  God's  over- 
throw of  the  nations  till  His  own  time,  and  this  the  last 
vision  now  describes  as  begun,  the  religious  and  moral 
needs  of  Israel  having  been  meanwhile  met  by  the  visions 
which  came  between,  and  every  obstacle  of  God's  action 
for  the  deliverance  of  His  people  being  removed." 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets     145 


TWENTY-FIRST  WEEK.    GOD  REIGNS. 


Fifth  Day:  Zech.  6:9-15.    Joshua  Crowned. 

3.  Result  of  the  visions.    6:9-15. 

God  having  spoken  by  visions  now  speaks  by  a  symbolic 
action,  cf.  Heb.  i  :i. 

They  are  to  take  the  gifts  which  have  been  sent  home 
by  the  Jews  in  captivity,  v.  10. 

The  high  priest  Joshua  is  to  be  crowned,  v.  ii. 

What  is  the  meaning  of  vs.  12,  13  ? 


The  missionary  promise,  v.  15. 

"  Jesus  shall  reign  where'er  the  sun 
Doth  his  successive  journeys  run." 

"  The  visions  have  revealed  the  removal  of  the  guilt  of 
the  land,  the  restoration  of  Israel  to  their  standing  before 
God,  the  revival  of  the  great  national  institutions  and 
God's  will  to  destroy  the  heathen  forces  of  the  world. 
With  the  temple  built,  Israel  should  be  again  in  the  posi- 
tion which  she  enjoyed  before  the  exile.  Zechariah, 
therefore,  proceeds  to  exhort  his  people  to  put  away  the 
fasts  which  the  exile  had  made  necessary  and  address 
themselves  as  of  old  to  the  virtues  and  duties  of  the  civic 
life  and  he  introduces  his  orations  to  this  end  by  a  natural 
appeal  to  the  experiences  of  the  former  days." 

Message  for  To-day:  For  him  who  is  willing  to  see 
God  gives  many  visions  of  encouragement  to-day.  Look 
at  the  wonderful  growth  of  Christianity,  out  of  that  little 
land  of  Judah  into  all  nations  of  the  earth ;  look  at  Jesus 
the  supreme  person  in  the  world  to-day,  and  take  courage. 
"  The  morning  light  is  breaking, 
The  darkness  disappears." 


146     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TWENTY-FIRST  WEEK.     GOD  REIGNS. 


Sixth  Day  :  Zech.  i  7-6 :8. 

Examine  again  the  following  verses  and  state  the  pur- 
pose of  the  visions:  i  :i6,  21 ;  2:4;  3:10;  4:9;  5:4;  5  :ii ; 
6:8. 


What  was  each  vision  ? 
1st: 


2d: 

3d: 

4th: 

5th: 

6th: 

7th: 

8th: 


What  message  for  to-day  comes  to  you  from  these 
visions  ? 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets     147 


TWENTY-FIRST  WEEK.    GOD  REIGNS. 


Seventh  Day:  Ps.  139:1-12. 

There  were  three  outside  nations  which  played  an  im- 
portant part  in  Israel's  history :  In  the  north  was  Assyria 
with  Nineveh,  its  great  city.  Consult  the  map  and  locate 
this  country.  Another  was  Babylonia  in  the  south,  with 
Babylon  as  its  capital.  Then  there  was  Syria,  with  Da- 
mascus as  its  leading  city.  Syria  included  the  country 
known  as  Palestine.  These  nations  are  often  spoken  of 
by  the  names  of  their  great  cities.  Cf.  Nahum.  1:1,  Amos 
5  :5,  Zech.  6:10.  Fix  the  relative  positions  of  these  coun- 
tries in  your  mind.  After  studying  the  map,  draw  one 
here. 


148      The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TWENTY-SECOND  WEEK.     "THUS  SAITH 
JEHOVAH." 


First  Day:  Zech.  7:1-7.    Obedience  Better  Than 
Fasting. 

4.  The  Deputation  from  Bethel.    Chs.  7  and  8. 
How  long  after  the  visions  was  this?     i  \y  and  7:1. 


Where  was  Bethel? 

To  what  place  did  they  come? 


Bethel  was  one  of  the  cities  to  which  the  captives  had 
returned  from  Babylon.     Ezra  2:1,  28. 
a.  The  question,  7:1-4. 
h.  The  answer,  7:5-8:23. 

The  question  was  whether  they,  now  that  the  captiv- 
ity is  over,  ought  to  observe  a  national  fast  which  had 
been  instituted  during  the  captivity,  "  So  many  years," 
V.  4.    "  Even  these  seventy  years/'  v.  5. 

To  the  prophets,  v.  3.  Haggai  and  Zachariah.  Cf. 
Hag.  2:11. 

The  answer  of  the  prophet: 

I.  Obedience  is  better  than  fasts,  5-7.  "  Let  them 
drop  their  fasts  and  practise  the  virtues,  the  neglect  of 
which  had  made  their  fasts  a  necessity." 

Do  you  ever  hear  such  questions  as  those  in  vs.  5 
and  6? 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets      149 


TWENTY-SECOND  WEEK.     "THUS  SAITH 
JEHOVAH." 


Second  Day:  Zech.  7:8-14.     Mercy,  not  Sacrifice. 

The  answer  of  the  prophet  (continued)  : 

2.  God  wants  justice  and  mercy,  not  sacrifice. 

Each  time  it  is  "  the  word  of  the  Lord  "  that  comes  to 

the  prophet   (7:1,  8;  8:1,   18).     He  doesn't  try  to  tell 

them  merely  what  he  thinks. 

What  hint  do  we  have  in  v.  12  of  the  way  God  spoke 
through  the  prophet? 


Speak  to  me  by  name,  O  Master, 
Let  me  know  it  is  for  me. 

Speak,  that  I  may  follow  faster 
With  a  step  more  firm  and  free 

Where  the  shepherd  leads  his  flock 

In  the  shadow  of  the  rock." 


Memorize  7:9. 


150     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TWENTY-SECOND  WEEK.     "THUS  SAITH 
JEHOVAH." 


Third  Day  :  Zech.  8  :i-8.    The  Peace  of  God. 

The  answer  of  the  prophet  (continued)  : 
3.  The  glorious  time  coming  when  God  shall  be  their 
God,  vs.  1-8. 

Notice  the  "  Thus  saith  Jehovah,"  vs.  i,  3,  4,  6,  7. 
What  does  God  say  in  each  instance  ? 
V.  I. 


3- 
4. 
6. 

7- 


Message  for  To-day,  vs.  4,  5 :  "  But  what  an  oracle 
for  these  times  of  ours!  Whether  in  the  large  cities 
of  the  old  world,  where  so  few  of  the  workers  may 
hope  for  a  quiet  old  age,  sitting  in  the  sun,  and  the 
children's  days  of  play  are  shortened  by  premature  toil 
and  knowledge  of  evil ;  or  in  the  newest  fringes  of  the 
new  worlds  where  men's  hardness  and  coarseness  are, 
in  the  struggle  for  gold,  unawed  by  reverence  for  age 
and  unsoftened  by  the  fellowship  of  childhood — Zacha- 
riah's  great  promise  is  equally  needed.  Even  there  shall 
it  be  fulfilled  if  men  will  remember  his  conditions — that 
the  first  regard  of  a  community,  however  straightened 
its  means,  be  the  provision  of  religion,  that  truth  and 
whole-hearted  justice  abound  in  the  gates,  with  love  and 
loyalty  in  every  heart  toward  every  other." 

Memorize  8:5. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets     1 5 1 


TWENTY-SECOND  WEEK.     "THUS  SAITH 
JEHOVAH." 


Fourth    Day:   Zech.    8:9-17,    The   Past   and   the 
Present. 

The  answer  of  the  prophet  (continued)  : 
What  does  God  say  in  each  paragraph? 
V.  9. 


V.  14. 


What  are  the  things  that  God  hates?    V.  17.     Does 
He  still  hate  them? 


Note  in  ch.  8  ten  short  oracles,  each  introduced  by 
the  words  "  Thus  saith  Jehovah" :  2,  3,  4,  6,  7,  9,  14, 
19,  20,  23. 


Message  for  To-day  :  "  For  ourselves  the  chief 
profit  of  these  beautiful  oracles  is  their  lesson  that  the 
remedy  for  the  sordid  tempers  and  cruel  hatreds  en- 
gendered by  the  fierce  struggle  for  existence  is  found 
in  civil  and  religious  hopes,  in  a  noble  ideal  for  the 
national  life,  and  in  the  assurance  that  God's  love  is  at 
the  back  of  all,  with  nothing  impossible  to  it." 


152      The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TWENTY-SECOND  WEEK.     "THUS  SAITH 
JEHOVAH." 


Fifth  Day:  Zech.  8:18-23.     Sorrow  Turned  to  Joy. 

The  answer  of  the  prophet  (continued)  : 
4.  All  fasts  shall  become  feasts  of  joy. 
The  question  of  7:3  is  now  answered. 
What  is  the  meaning  of  vs.  20,  21  ? 


V.  22.  Here  is  the  missionary  promise  again.     What 
is  it? 


Read  Ps.  122. 

Message  for  To-day:  We  have  heard  that  God  is 
with  you.  When  Mr.  Moody  was  on  the  Spree,  while 
she  was  thought  to  be  sinking,  it  is  said  that  all  kinds 
of  people,  believers  and  unbelievers,  came  to  ask  him 
to  pray.  They  had  heard  that  God  was  with  him.  O, 
that  more  of  us  could  lead  such  lives  that  our  fellows 
would  know  that  God  was  with  us.  Would  that  our 
national  life  were  such  that  the  whole  world  might 
know  that  God  is  with  us  as  a  people. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets      i  S3 


TWENTY-SECOND  WEEK.     "THUS  SAITH 
JEHOVAH." 


Sixth  Day:  Zech.  7:1-8:23.     The  Mistakes  of  the 
Past  and  the  Possibilities  of  the  Future. 

What  was  the  question  the  people  asked?    7:3. 


The   answer  was   in  four  parts;  give  the   substance 
of  each  part. 
I. 


Prayer  :  "  Dear  Father,  here  I  am,  where  Thou  hast 
placed  me.  Thou  dost  know  the  plans  for  me  which 
are  in  Thy  mind.  Teach  me  that  I  may  know  them. 
Give  me  grace  that  I  may  accomplish  them.  Make  me 
strong  that  I  may  fill  them  as  Thou  dost  will.  I  am 
not  here  for  my  own  purposes,  for  Thou  God  has  sent 
me  into  the  world.  Inspire  me,  O  Holy  Spirit,  that  I 
may  embody  Thine  own  self.  Mould  me,  O  Creator 
of  us  all,  that  I  may  take  on  immortality  in  the  likeness 
of  Jesus  Christ.    Amen." 


154     The  JMessage  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TWENTY-SECOND  WEEK.     "THUS  SAITH 
JEHOVAH." 


Seventh  Day:  Zech.  Chs.  i-8. 


Review  the  book  to  this  point.     Verify  the  following 
outline : 

Part  I.  Visions  and  Fasts,  chs.  i-8. 

1.  Introduction,  i  :i-6. 

2.  Eight  visions,  i  :7-6 :8. 
1st.  Four  horsemen,  i  '-7-17. 

2d.  Four  horns  and  four  smiths,  i :  18-21. 
3d.  The  man  with  the  measuring  line,  2:1-5. 

(An  interruption,  2:6-13.) 
4th.  The  high  priest  and  Satan,  3:1-10. 
5th.  The   Golden   Candlestick   and   Olive   Trees, 

4:1-14. 
6th.  The  flying  roll,  5:1-4. 
7th.  The  woman  in  a  barrel,  5:5-11. 
8th.  The  chariots  of  the  Four  Winds,  6:1-8. 

3.  Result  of  the  visions,  6:9-15. 

4.  The  Deputation  from  Bethel,  7:1-8:23. 
a.  The   question,   7:1-4. 

h.  The  answer,  7 :5-8 :23. 

1.  Obedience  better  than  fasts,  7:5-7. 

2.  Justice,  not  sacrifice,  7:8-14. 

3.  Glorious  times  coming,  8:1-17. 

4.  Fasts  shall  be  feasts  of  joy,  8:18-23. 

What  message  has  come  to  you  from  your  study  of 
the  book  of  Zechariah  thus  far? 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets     155 


TWENTY-THIRD  WEEK.    THE  KING  OF  PEACE. 


First  Day:  Zech.  9:1-8.      Punishment  of  Israel's 
Enemies. 

Part  II.  The  First  Burden  of  the  Word  of  the  Lord : 
The  coming  of  the  King,  chs.  9-1 1. 

"  The  hope  of  a  mother  for  her  first  born,  the  pride  of 
a  father  in  his  son,  the  devotion  of  a  slave  to  his  Hberator, 
the  eagerness  of  the  woman  for  her  lover,  the  enthusiasm 
of  soldiers  for  their  captain — unite  all  these  noblest  affec- 
tions of  the  human  heart  and  you  yet  shall  fail  to  reach 
the  passion  and  the  glory  with  which  prophecy  looked  for 
the  King  to  come." 

There  is  an  abrupt  and  decided  change  at  this  point  in 
the  book. 

The  word  burden  is  usually  used  of  a  prophecy  of  judg- 
ment. The  sentence  hung  down  as  a  heavy  weight,  not 
only  upon  the  heart  of  the  prophet,  but  upon  the  people  to 
whom  he  spoke. 

As  you  read  the  remainder  of  the  book  notice  how  rich 
it  is  in  Messianic  prophecies. 

Had  rack,  v.  i.  This  word  caused  much  speculation  for 
a  time  as  to  whether  it  was  the  name  of  a  king  or  not.  It 
has  now  been  settled,  as  many  other  important  questions 
are  being  settled,  by  discovering  the  word  in  an  Assyrian 
inscription  as  the  name  of  a  city  near  Nineveh. 

The  places  mentioned  were  enemies  of  Israel. 

On  vs.  3,  4.    See  Luke  12:16-21. 

What  is  the  meaning  of  v.  7  ? 


Read  Ps.  91. 


156     [The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TWENTY-THIRD  WEEK.    THE  KING  OF  PEACE. 


Second  Day  :  Zech.  9  rQ-i/.    The  Coming  of  the  King. 
What  is  the  prophecy  of  v.  9  ? 

When  was  it  fulfilled  ? 

What  attributes  of  the  King  are  mentioned  here? 

What  attribute  is  referred  to  in  v.  10? 


Was  the  section  of  country  referred  to  in  v.  10  very 
large  ? 


What  is  the  meaning  of  v.  10? 


Covenant,  v.  11.     See  Ex.  24 :5-8 ;  Matt.  26 :28. 

The  Pit,  V.  II.  This  was  a  common  name  for  dun- 
geons, which  sometimes  were  old  wells,  Jer.  37:16. 

Victory  is  coming  to  Judah,  vs.  13-17. 

What  particulars  in  these  verses  show  a  time  of  peace 
and  prosperity  coming  ? 


Message  for  To-day  :  "  Thy  sons,  O  Zion,  against  thy 
sons,  O  Greece."  "  How  true  it  is  that  Zion  must  be 
against  Greece.  The  one  stood  for  religion  and  the 
beauty  of  holiness ;  the  other  for  culture  and  the  love  of 
beauty.  The  one  was  sensitive  to  the  moral  purity  of  God, 
and  therefore  to  the  moral  sanctions  of  life ;  the  other  was 
sensitive  to  aesthetic  beauty,  and  therefore  to  the  natural 
glory  of  life.  Hebraism  adored  and  glorified  God :  Hel- 
lenism deified  the  world  and  glorified  man." 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets     1 57 


TWENTY-THIRD  WEEK.    THE  KING  OF  PEACE. 


Third  Day:  Zech.  10:1-12.    Judah's  Supremacy. 

Latter  rain,  v.  i.  This  was  the  rain  that  fell  in  the 
spring  and  helped  the  growing  grain.  The  blessing  of 
rain  was  often  a  symbol  of  the  blessing  of  God  upon  His 
people.     Ps.  65:9,  10.     So  here,  cf.  14:17. 

Teraphim,  v.  2.  What  was  this?  Cf,  i  Sam.  19:13; 
Gen.  31:19;  Ezek.  21:21;  Hos.  3:4. 


What  is  the  contrast  between  vs.  i  and  2  ? 
Shepherds,  he-goats,  v.  3,  are  names  for  the  rulers  and 
principal  men. 

What  is  the  substance  of  vs.  3-5? 


Corner-stone,  v.  4.    Unless  God  supplies  the  foundation 
the  house  will  not  stand,  Eph.  2 :20. 
What  promise  is  in  vs.  6-12? 


Note  how  the  Jews  have  been  sown  among  the  people, 
V.  9. 

"  The  people  are  warned  to  seek  their  blessing  from 
Jehovah,  and  not  from  teraphim  and  diviners,  whom  their 
false  shepherds  follow.  Jehovah,  visiting  His  flock,  shall 
punish  these,  give  proper  rulers,  make  the  people  strong, 
and  gather  in  their  exiles  to  fill  Gilead  and  Lebanon." 


158      The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TWENTY-THIRD  WEEK.    THE  KING  OF  PEACE. 


Fourth  Day:  Zech.  i  1:1-6.    Feed  the  Flock. 

Lebanon,  v.  i.  Lebanon  stood  between  Israel  and  her 
enemies  as  a  bulwark.  Her  gates  had  to  be  opened, 
figuratively,  to  let  the  invaders  through. 

Vs.  1-4  are  poetical,  yet  there  is  a  literal  meaning  as 
well.  It  is  the  fire  of  an  invading  army  ;  the  storm  break- 
ing upon  the  shepherds  and  their  sheep. 

God  speaks  to  the  prophet,  vs.  4-6. 

Flock  of  slaughter,  v.  4.  The  flocks  exposed  to  slaugh- 
ter. 

Who  are  the  sheep  ? 


Vs.  4-6.  "  To  me  Jehovah  gave  an  important  commis- 
sion. '  Be  a  true  shepherd,'  he  commanded,  '  to  my  poor 
sheep,'  so  abused  by  those  who  have  ruled  over  them. 
Their  foreign  masters  have  treated  them  as  brute  beasts 
without  remorse  or  mercy,  exulting  in  their  value  as  prop- 
erty." 

Read  Ps.  23. 

Message  for  To-day  :  '"'■  Feed  the  Hock,"  v.  4.  Feed  my 
sheep,  John  21 :  16,  17.  It  is  a  far  cry  from  one  of  these 
commands  to  the  other,  but  God  changes  not.  As  he 
spoke  to  His  prophets  and  to  His  disciples,  so  he  speaks 
to  us  to-day.  "  Let  him  that  is  taught,  communicate," 
Gal.  6:6,  is  still  the  word  of  God  to  us.  What  are  you 
doing  to  obey  it  ?    Are  you  feeding  the  flock  ? 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets      159 


TWENTY-THIRD  WEEK.    THE  KING  OF  PEACE. 


Fifth  Day:  Zech.  ii  '.7-14.    The  Prophet's  Failure. 

The  command  had  been  obeyed,  v.  7.  Have  you  obeyed 
it? 

The  allegory  here  has  been  called  a  "  Summary  of  the 
history  of  Israel."    Is  this  a  good  name  for  it? 


Instead  of  taking  one  staflf  of  office  as  a  shepherd,  he 
takes  two.  He  names  one  Beauty  or  Grace  to  signify  that 
part  of  his  work  should  be  to  show  the  people  God's  gra- 
ciousness ;  the  other  he  calls  Bands,  signifying  especially 
the  union  of  the  people. 

What  does  v.  8  mean  ? 


But  it  is  no  use  ;  he  has  to  let  them  go,  vs.  9,  10. 

His  work  is  done ;  he  asks  for  his  wages,  v.  12. 

And  what  do  they  give  him?  The  miserly  price  of  a 
slave,  V.  12.  He  casts  it  away  to  show  that  they  have 
rejected  not  him,  but  Jehovah,  and  breaks  his  other  staff. 

"  The  spiritual  principles  which  underlie  this  allegory 
are  obvious.  God's  own  sheep,  persecuted  and  helpless 
tho'  they  be,  are  yet  obstinate,  and  their  obstinacy  not  only 
renders  God's  goodwill  to  them  futile,  but  causes  the 
death  of  the  one  man  who  could  have  done  them  good. 
The  guilty  sacrifice  the  innocent,  but  in  this  execute  their 
own  doom.     This  is  a  summary  of  the  history  of  Israel." 


i6o     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TWENTY-THIRD  WEEK.    THE  KING  OF  PEACE. 


Sixth  Day  :  Zech.  i i  :i5-i7.    Jehovah's  Punishment. 

Foolish  Shepherd,  v.  15.  They  had  rejected  the  Good 
Shepherd  :  a  different  kind  should  be  provided. 

Note  in  v.  16,  why  the  shepherd  is  fooHsh ;  the  things  he 
does  not  do. 


The  priests  during  the  days  of  the  Reformation  were 
often  called  shepherds,  who,  instead  of  feeding  the  sheep, 
fed  on  the  sheep. 

Cf.  Jude  12,  where  those  who  lead  others  astray  are 
called  shepherds. 

What  is  to  happen  to  the  foolish  shepherd  ? 


Read  John  10. 

Prayer  :  "  Lord  Jesus,  Thou  great  shepherd  of  the 
sheep,  I  am  the  sheep  that  has  gone  astray ;  seek  me  out 
and  bring  me  again  to  Thy  fold.  May  I  dwell  in  Thy 
house  all  the  days  of  my  life  and  praise  Thee  forever 
and  ever  with  them  that  are  there.    Amen." 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets     i6i 


TWENTY-THIRD  WEEK.    THE  KING  OF  PEACE. 


Seventh  Day:  Zech.  Chs.  9,  10,   11.     The  Coming 

King. 

Part  II.  The  Burden  of  the  Word  of  the  Lord,  chs. 
9-11,  (continued). 

Fill  out  the  following  outline : 
9:1-8. 


9-17. 
10:1-12. 
11:1-3. 

4-6. 

7-14. 
15-17- 


Study  the  Messianic  prophecies : 
The  coming  King,  9  :g ;  Matt.  21 14,  5. 
The  thirty  pieces  of  silver,   11:12,   13;  Matt.  26:15; 
27:9, 10. 

Him  whom  they  have  pierced,  12:10;  John  19:37. 
Smite  the  shepherd,  13 :7 ;  Matt.  26 :3i. 
They  restore  the  temple,  6:13. 
My  servant  the  Branch,  3:8,  6:12. 


1 62     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TWENTY-FOURTH    WEEK.    THE    GREAT    DE- 
LIVERANCE. 


First  Day:  Zech.  12:1-9.    Jehovah's  Protection  of 
His  People. 

Part  HI.  The   Second   Burden  of  the  Word  of  the 
Lord :  The  great  deliverance  and  the  better  age,  chs.  12, 

13.  14- 
What  attributes  are  ascribed  to  God  in  v.  i  ? 


Cup  of  reeling,  v.  2.  "  Jerusalem  stands  forth  like 
some  vast  bowl  or  basin,  round  which  all  nations  gather, 
eager  to  swallow  down  its  inviting  contents.  But  the 
draught  proves  to  be  far  other  than  they  anticipated,  and 
they  reel  and  stagger  back  from  it,  confused  and  dis- 
comfited." 

Burdensome  stone,  v.  3.  Too  heavy  for  anyone  to 
lift. 

What  is  the  meaning  of  vs.  2,  3? 


What  promise  is  in  vs.  4,  5? 
Paraphrase  v.  6. 


One  of  the  results  of  tKe  deliverance  is  found  in  v.  8. 
What  was  it  to  be  ? 


Another  result  is  in  v.  9.     What  was  it? 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets     163 


TWENTY-FOURTH    WEEK.    THE    GREAT    DE- 
LIVERANCE. 


Second  Day:  Zech.   12:10-14.    Penitence  for  Sin. 

This  is  one  more  result  of  the  deliverance,  a  repentant 
people. 

How  were  they  to  manifest  their  penitence  ? 


Did  you  ever  manifest  yours  in  this  way? 
See  Luke  22:61,  62. 


Message  for  To-day  :  "  They  shall  look  upon  me 
whom  they  have  pierced,"  v.  10.  Yes,  the  day  is  com- 
ing when  we  must  look  upon  Him.  "  We  shall  know 
Him  by  the  print  of  the  nails."  Whether  we  shall  look 
upon  Him  in  terror  or  with  joy  we  are  now  deciding. 
What  is  your  decision? 


164     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TWENTY-FOURTH    WEEK.    THE    GREAT    DE- 
LIVERANCE, 


Third    Day:    Zech.     13:1-9.      Purification    From 

Guilt. 

A  great  promise  of  an  open  fountain  in  which  the 
people  might  be  cleansed.  Cf.  John  1:29;  Isa.  1:18; 
Ps.  51:2,  7. 

Hairy  mantle,  v.  4.  The  prophet's  usual  garb,  2  Kings 
1:8;  Matt.  3:4. 

When  was  this  promise  fulfilled  ?  I  John  i  :7 ;  Heb. 
9:13,  14. 

Idols  are  to  be  destroyed,  v.  2. 

There  shall  be  no  rival  of  the  true  God.  How  is  it 
with  you,  have  the  idols  been  destroyed? 

There  is  to  be  no  need  of  prophets,  so  prophecy  is 
to  be  abolished,  vs.  2-6. 

Vs.  3-6  have  been  paraphrased :  "  Since  the  prophets 
as  a  class  have  become  mere  mercenary,  untruthful  pro- 
fessionals, whose  nearest  relatives  feel  compelled  to 
silence  or  slay  them,  they  are  no  longer  worth  maintain- 
ing. So  completely  will  they  be  under  the  ban  that  they 
shall  cease  to  boast  of  their  visions  and  to  wear  rough 
cloaks  of  skin,  like  Elijah,  and  will  instead  claim  that 
they  are  farmers.  When  one  of  these  is  asked  concern- 
ing his  wounded  hands,  he  will  reply  evasively :'  I  re- 
ceived these  wounds  from  my  friends ! '  " 

What  is  God  going  to  do  to  them  ?    Vs.  7-9. 


Message  for  To-day  :  "  /  will  refine  them  as  silver 
is  refined,"  v.  9.  "  More  and  more  it  comes  to  me,  that 
as  in  the  Father's  house  above  there  are  many  rooms, 
so  in  His  school  below  there  are  many  benches.  No 
two  of  us  are  taught  alike.  Just  why  you  should  have 
been  and  are  being  led — just  why  you  should  have  such 
hard  lessons  to  learn  no  one  knows  but  God :  but  He 
knows — and  that  is  worth  everything  to  a  child." 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets      165 


TWENTY-FOURTH    WEEK.     THE    GREAT    DE- 
LIVERANCE. 


Fourth    Day:    Zech.    14:1-11.     Judgment   of   the 
Heathen. 

A  day  of  the  Lord  is  coming,  v.  i. 
What  is  the  substance  of  v.  2  ? 


God  shall  fight  for  Jerusalem,  v.  3. 

Try  to  realize  the  beauty  of  vs.  6-8. 

No  need  of  a  distinction  between  day  and  night. 

Living  waters  shall  flow  out  in  winter  and  summer. 
Cf.  Ps.  126:4.  "^<y  streams  in  the  south."  They  never 
freeze. 

Prosperity  in  the  land,  vs.  9-1 1.  What  are  the  char- 
acteristics of  the  period? 


Ps.  24:1-6. 


1 66     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TWENTY-FOURTH    WEEK.     THE    GREAT    DE- 
LIVERANCE. 


Fifth  Day:  Zech.  14:12-21. 

Hostile  nations  to  be  destroyed,  vs.  12-15. 
Notice  the  vividness  of  v.  12. 

What  is  to  be  the  effect  upon  the  nations  that  are  left  ? 
Cf .  Rev.  7  -.g. 


Feast  of  Tabernacles,  v.  16.  "  It  was  the  last  and 
greatest  festival  of  the  Jewish  year,  gathering  up  into 
itself,  as  it  were,  the  year's  worship,  and  at  the  same 
time  typifying  the  ingathering  of  all  nations  into  the 
Church  of  God." 

What  is  there  in  this  section  that  makes  it  a  mission- 
ary promise? 


Everything  is  to  be  holy  unto  the  Lord,  v.  20.     Cf. 
Rev.  21  -.22. 


Read  Ps.  84. 


(The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets      167 


TWENTY-FOURTH    WEEK.    THE    GREAT    DE- 
LIVERANCE. 


Sixth  Day:  Zech.  Chs.  12,  13,  14.     The  Messianic 
Promises  in  Zechariah  and  their  Fulfilment. 

Gather  up  these  promises  once  more  and  notice  in  the 
New  Testament  their  fulfilment. 


Read  again  the  Messianic  promises  we  have  had  up 
to  this  point.    Mic.  5 :2,  3 ;  Amos  9:11 ;  Mic.  4:1-7  et  al. 


Prayer  :  "  We  long  for  Thy  coming,  dear  Lord ;  Thy 
servants  wait  patiently  for  the  glad  day  when  Thou 
shalt  summon  us  to  meet  Thee.  Grant  that  we  may  so 
live  day  by  day  that  whether  Thy  coming  be  at  even, 
or  at  midnight,  or  at  cock  crowing,  or  in  the  morning, 
we  shall  be  waiting  for  Thee,  watching  for  Thee,  ready 
to  go  with  Thee.     Amen." 


1 68     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TWENTY-FOURTH    WEEK.    THE    GREAT    DE- 
LIVERANCE. 


Seventh  Day:  Deut.  327-35. 

Make  an  outline  of  the  book  of  Zechariah  based  on 
the  prior  studies. 
Part  I. 


4. 

Part  n. 

Part  HI. 

Key  thought:  The  Supremacy  of  God. 

Key  word:  Jealous, 

Key  text :  8 :2. 

The  Message  of  Zechariah :  "  His  message  was  ex- 
clusively that  of  the  absolute  enthronement  of  Jehovah. 
He  gives  them  the  picture  of  Jehovah  watching;  of 
Jehovah  acting;  and  of  Jehovah  blessing  in  spite  of  all 
their  failure.  .  .  .  It  is  the  picture  of  God  acting,  as 
well  as  watching,  and  the  picture  necessarily,  therefore, 
of  God's  blessing.  ,  .  .  God  is  on  His  throne,  watch- 
ing, acting,  and  He  will  bless,  but  men  will  only  come  into 
possession  of  the  blessing  and  realization  of  it  as  they 
get  back  to  Him  and  fulfil  His  purpose." 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets     169 


TWENTY-FIFTH     WEEK.      UNCONSCIOUS 
CORRUPTION. 


First  Day:  Mal.  1:1-5.    God's  Love. 

I.  Title,  1:1. 

Some  have  thought  the  book  to  be  anonymous. 
Malachi  means  "  My  messenger" ;  it  may  not  be  a 
proper  name. 

To  whom  does  he  speak?  Who  was  Edom?  Cf. 
Obadiah  1-4. 

Date:  The  book  is  not  dated.  That  it  was  after  the 
captivity  is  shown  by  the  fact  of  temple  service,  i  :7 ; 
2:13,  and  the  absence  of  idolatry.  The  temple  was 
finally  completed  in  516  b.c. 

"  The  situation  in  Judah  at  the  time  when  Malachi 
prophesied  was  one  of  depression  and  discontent.  The 
expectation  which  earlier  prophets  had  aroused  had  not 
been  fulfilled ;  the  restoration  from  Babylon  had  brought 
with  it  none  of  the  ideal  glories  promised  by  Isaiah ;  bad 
harvest  increased  the  disappointment:  hence  many 
among  the  people  began  to  doubt  the  Divine  justice; 
Jehovah,  they  argued,  could  no  longer  be  the  Holy  God, 
for  He  was  heedless  of  His  people's  necessity,  and  per- 
mitted sin  to  continue  unpunished ;  to  what  purpose, 
therefore,  should  they  concern  themselves  with  His 
service?  " 

"  The  essential  principles  of  the  religion  of  Israel 
which  had  been  shaken  or  obscured  by  the  delinquency 
of  the  people  during  the  half  centur}'  after  the  rebuild- 
ing of  the  Temple  were  three :  the  distinctive  Love  of 
Jehovah  for  His  people,  His  Holiness  and  His  Right- 
eousness ;  the  Book  of  Malachi  takes  up  each  of  these 
in  turn  and  proves  or  enforces  it  according  as  the  people 
have  formerly  doubted  it  or  in  their  carelessness  done 
it  despite." 

II.  Introduction,  i  :2-5.  God's  love  of  Jacob  con- 
trasted with  His  hatred  of  Esau.    Rom.  9:13. 

''/  have  loved  you,^'  v.  i.  This  was  God's  attitude 
toward  them. 


lyo     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TWENTY-FIFTH     WEEK.      UNCONSCIOUS 
CORRUPTION. 


Second  Day:  Mal.  1:6-14.     Priests'  Sins. 

"  Taking  his  stand  on  the  unchanging  love  of  God 
(1:2)  he  entreats,  rebukes  and  warns  the  entire  com- 
munity with  respect  to  three  great  evils  which  had 
marred  the  spirituality  of  their  ideals :  polluted  worship, 
broken  marriage  vows,  unbelief." 

III.  Sins  of  the  Priests  and  their  punishment,  i  :6-2:g. 

Note  the  construction  of  Malachi's  paragraphs:  i. 
The  truth  stated.  2.  The  objection.  3.  The  answer. 
1 :2;  1 :6;  2:17  ^^  al. 

What  sins  are  mentioned  in  vs.  6,  7,  and  8? 


They  offer  to  God  what  they  would  not  offer  to  a 
superior  on  earth.     Isn't  this  true  of  many  of  us  to-day? 

V.  9.  "  If  you  don't  believe  it  try  to  perform  your 
function  as  priests." 

"  Better  a  temple  closed  than  a  temple  profaned," 
v.  10. 

One  of  the  great  evils  was  the  slovenly  worship.  Cf. 
1 :6,  7,  8,  13. 

V.  II.  "Never  have  we  had  in  prophecy,  even  the 
most  far  seeing  and  evangelical,  a  statement  so  far  see- 
ing and  generous  as  this."     What  was  the  statement? 

What  further  sins  are  mentioned? 


What  is  the  meaning  of  v.  14? 
Are  you  in  danger  of  this  curse? 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets      171 


TWENTY-FIFTH     WEEK.      UNCONSCIOUS 
CORRUPTION. 


Third  Day:  Mal.  2:1-9.     Punishment. 
What  did  God  require  of  the  priests?     V.  2. 

What  was  to  be  their  punishment  ? 

What  was  "  the  covenant  ivith  Levi "  ?     V.  4.     Cf. 
margin. 

Why  does  he  refer  to  Levi  in  speaking  of  the  priests  ? 


Notice  in  V.  7  a  description  of  what   we  should  be. 
2  Cor.  5  :20. 

What  had  the  priests  really  done?     V.  8. 


What  further  sin  is  specified  in  v.  9? 


"  This,  then,  is  something  of  the  situation  that  con- 
fronted the  author  of  Malachi :  A  priesthood  lazy  and 
corrupt,  neglecting  to  instruct  the  people  in  religion, 
and  offering  imperfect  sacrifices  in  the  temple ;  many 
of  the  leaders,  including  doubtless  the  priests  them- 
selves, united  in  marriage  to  the  wealthy  people  of  the 
land,  to  accomplish  which  they  had  resorted  to  divorce ; 
and  the  mass  of  the  people  so  far  sunk  in  despair  that 
they  had  almost  ceased  to  believe  that  God  cared  for 
them,  or  that  they  had  any  duty  to  perform  toward 
Him." 

Prayer:  (Write  out  a  prayer  based  on  some  lesson 
from  this  paragraph.) 


172     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TWENTY-FIFTH     WEEK.       UNCONSCIOUS 
CORRUPTION. 


Fourth    Day:    Mal.    2:10-17.     "The    Cruelty    of 
Divorce." 

IV.  Sins  of  the  people,  2:10-3:6.  "Like  priest,  like 
people." 

Although  brothers  they  had  deceived  each  other,  v. 
10.     Cf.  Ex.  19:4-6. 

What  sins  are  referred  to  vs.  ii,  13?    Neh.  13:23-27. 


God  will  punish  such  sin,  v.  12. 

Vs.  14-16.  What  warnings  are  given  here? 

What  evil  does  God  hate  according  to  v.  16? 


V.  17.  "  Jehovah  is  tired  of  hearing  you  complain 
that  He  shows  especial  favor  to  evil-doers,  and  that  he 
never  punishes  vice  nor  rewards  virtue." 

Note  their  continual  questions.     IV herein  f     1:2,  6,  7; 

3  -y,  8,  13. 

"  It  is  a  picture  of  a  people  who  imagine  they  are 
all  right,  when  they  are  all  wrong." 

Notice  through  the  book  how  Malachi  insists  on  com- 
pliance with  the  demands  of  the  law  as  one  of  the  con- 
ditions on  which  God's  blessing  may  be  expected:  1:14; 
2 :8 ;  3  :7 ;  4 :4.  Contrast  this  with  the  New  Testament 
teaching.    Eph.  2:8,  9. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets      173 


TWENTY-FIFTH     WEEK.       UNCONSCIOUS 
CORRUPTION. 


Fifth  Day:  Mal.  3:1-6.     Some  Day  It  Will  Come 

Right. 

A  messenger  is  to  prepare  the  way,  then  the  Lord  will 
come.     See  marginal  references. 
What  is  His  coming  to  be  like  ? 


Fullers'  soap,  used  to  purify  and  whiten  the  goods. 
Priests  are  to  be  purified,  v.  3.    Cf.  i  :6-i4. 
God  will  be  a  source  of  joy  to  the  righteous,  v.  4,  but 
a  punishment  to  the  wicked,  v.  5. 

The  sins  of  v.  5  were  the  prevailing  Oriental  sins. 
What  reason  is  given  for  this  condition  in  v.  6? 


Message  for  To-day  :  "  The  message  of  Malachi  was 
a  tract  for  his  times,  but  it  is  equally  inspiring  for  the 
humble  Christian  of  to-day,  whose  outlook  on  life  is  cir- 
cumscribed and  despondent,  over  whom  others  win  ad- 
vantage, who  is  led  to  question  the  value  of  honor,  devo- 
tion, and  probity.  Let  him  fix  his  gaze,  not  upon  himself 
nor  upon  the  world  around,  but  upon  the  all-wise,  ever- 
loving,  just,  and  gracious  Father." 


174     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TWENTY-FIFTH     WEEK.       UNCONSCIOUS 
CORRUPTION. 


Sixth  Day:  Mal.  3:7-15.    Robbing  God. 

V.  Warnings,  3  7-4:3- 

Note   again   the   peculiar  constructions   of  the   para- 
graph.    See  study  for  second  day. 
Rebuke  as  to  offerings. 
To  whom  is  God  speaking  in  v.  7? 


God  asks  them  to  return  to  Him.  They  reply,  how- 
can  we  return?  By  paying  the  tithe.  Withholding  the 
tithe  showed  unbelief.  By  paying  it  they  would  show 
that  they  trusted  Him. 

How  is  it  true  that  by  not  giving  tithes  they  robbed 
God?     Neh.  13:10-12. 


How  were  they  to  get  blessings? 
What  were  the  blessings  to  be  ? 


Memorize  v.  10. 

Could  we  be  blessed  in  the  same  way  now? 

Florence  Nightingale  once  said  the  secret  of  her  suc- 
cess was  that  she  never  refused  God  anything. 

The  old  complaint,  the  wicked  prosper,  God's  service 
is  a  vain   service.     Isn't  this  the  complaint  nowadays? 

Read  Ps.  37:1-11. 

Vs.  13-15.  "  What  good  do  we  gain  by  being  faith- 
ful to  God?  What  is  the  use,  after  all,  of  our  service, 
our  prayer,  our  lamentation?  It  is  the  proud  who  are 
happy,  and  the  wicked  who  are  built  up."     See  Job  3. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets     175 


TWENTY-FIFTH     WEEK.      UNCONSCIOUS 
CORRUPTION. 


Seventh    Day:    Mal.    3:16-4:6.     God's    Righteous 
Judgment. 

"  The  apocalypse  of  this  last  judgment  is  one  of  the 
grandest  in  all  scripture.  To  the  wicked  it  shall  be  a 
terrible  fire,  root  and  branch  shall  they  be  burned  out, 
but  to  the  righteous  a  fair  morning  of  God. 

Over  against  their  complaint  God  speaks.  What  is 
meant  by  "  a  book  of  remembrance  "? 

How  did  those  who  believed  in  God  increase  their 
faith?     V.  16. 

"  The  importance  of  such  a  little  band  of  Puritans 
in  the  midst  of  a  godless  nation  ought  not  to  be  over- 
looked." 

What  is  the  promise  of  vs.   17,  18? 

What  is  to  happen  to  the  wicked? 

What  to  the  righteous? 

VI.  Conclusion,  4:4-6. 

Remember  the  law,  Moses.     Why? 

Look  for  Elijah,  v.  5. 

These  two  appeared  at  the  transfiguration. 

The  final  promise,  v.  6.     What  was  it  ? 

Go  over  the  studies  for  the  week  and  make  an  outline 
of  the  book. 

"  Malachi  is  like  a  late  evening  which  brings  a  long 
day  to  a  close,  but  he  is  also  like  a  morning  dawn  which 
brings  with  it  the  promise  of  a  new  and  more  glorious 
day." 

Key  thought :  Infidelity  of  returned  captives. 

Key  word :  Robbery. 

Key  text :  3 :8. 


176     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TWENTY-SIXTH  WEEK.     PUNISHMENT   AND 
DELIVERANCE. 


First  Day  :  Joel  i  :i-7.    It  Is  a  Time  to  Weep. 

Title,  1:1. 

We  know  nothing  about  Joel  except  what  we  get  from 
his  book. 

"  Receiving,  as  it  does,  no  weight  from  the  personality 
of  the  prophet,  it  may  tell  the  more  forcibly,  and  shine 
the  more  brightly  through  the  inherent  force  and  clear- 
ness of  its  own  truth." 

What  inferences  may  be  drawn  about  his  home  from 
2:1,  15,23,32:3:1,6,8. 

Where  did  he  live?     1:13,14. 


The  date  of  the  book  is  very  uncertain.     Most  scholars 
agree  on  a  late  date.    G.  A.  Smith  says  444  B.C. 
Against  which  nation  did  he  speak  ? 


Part  I.  The  scourge  of  locusts  and  deliverance  from 
them,  1 :2-2  '.2^.     Help  in  temporal  disaster. 

I.  Lamentation  over  destruction  by  locusts,  i  :2-i4. 
To  what  class  does  Joel  speak  in  v.  2  ? 


The  awfulness  of  the  plague  is  shown  by  vs.  2,  3,  and  4, 
cf.  2:4-11. 

What  class  is  addressed  in  v.  5  ? 


Vs.  6  and  7  describe  the  way  in  which  locusts  or  grass- 
hoppers have  overrun  the  land. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets      177 


TWENTY-SIXTH  WEEK.      PUNISHMENT   AND 
DELIVERANCE. 


Second  Day  :  Joel  i  :8-I4.     Sorrow  and  Lamentation. 
Who  is  addressed  in  vs.  8-10? 

Why  ''girded  with  sackcloth"?    V.  8. 

What  have  the  locusts  destroyed?    Vs.  8-10. 

In  vs.  11-12  what  class  is  called  upon? 


Note  in  all  these  cases  the  completeness  of  the  destruc- 
tion. 

In  vs.  13,  14  still  another  class  is  called  upon ;  who  are 
they? 


What  are  they  urged  to  do?    V.  14. 


What  classes  of  the  people  has  He  called  upon  so  far  ? 


What  words  in  vs.  2-14  show  the  completeness  of  the 
destruction  ? 


ijS     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TWENTY-SIXTH  WEEK.      PUNISHMENT   AND 
DELIVERANCE. 


Third  Day  :  Joel  i  :  15-20.    The  Drought. 

2.  The  drought,  1:15-20. 
Vs.  2-14  have  been  summarized:  "Terrible  times; 
everything  destroyed;  mourn  ye  drunkards,  there  is  no 
more  wine;  mourn  all  people,  your  land  is  destroyed; 
mourn  ye  priests,  your  occupation  is  gone ;  let  all  classes 
turn  to  God  in  this  their  day  of  trouble." 


What  different  expressions  does  the  prophet  use  to  de- 
scribe the  drought  ? 


Message  for  To-day  :  "  The  zvafer  brooks  are  dried 
up."  It  seems  oftentimes  as  if  this  would  have  to  be  our 
cry,  everything  is  so  dry  spiritually.  It  seems  as  if  the 
rivers  of  God  have  dried  up.  But  there  is  help  in  such 
times  of  need — as  there  surely  will  be  such  times — and 
that  help  comes  alone  from  God.  In  answer  to  our  cry,  as 
in  answer  to  Joel's,  He  will  send  a  fountain  from  the  house 
of  Jehovah,  3:18.  Those  who  are  strangers  to  God  may 
be  like  a  desolate  wilderness,  but  for  God's  own  people 
"  the  brooks  of  Judah  shall  flow  with  water." 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets      179 


TWENTY-SIXTH  WEEK.      PUNISHMENT   AND 
DELIVERANCE. 


Fourth  Day  :  Joel  2:1-11.     Come  and  Pray. 

3.  Summons  to  prayer  and  fasting,  2:1-20. 

The  prophet  summons  them  to  prayer  and  fasting  for 
the  removal  of  the  scourge. 

Dr.  Morgan  calls  this  first  trumpet  "  The  trumpet  of 
alarm ;  and  "the  second  trumpet,  in  v.  15,  "  The  trumpet  of 
repentance." 

What  is  the  meaning  of  v.  2  ? 

Read  carefully  the  wonderful  description  of  the  coming 
of  the  locusts  in  vs.  4-1 1,  cf.  Ex.  10:12. 

"  Summoning  all  the  people  I  could  collect,  we  went  out 
to  meet  and  attack  them  [locusts],  hoping  to  stop  their 
progress  altogether,  or,  at  least,  to  turn  aside  the  line  of 
their  march.  .  .  .  But  their  number  was  astounding; 
the  whole  face  of  the  mountain  was  black  with  them.  On 
they  came  like  a  living  deluge.  We  dug  trenches  and 
kindled  fires  and  beat  and  burned  to  death  '  heaps  and 
heaps,'  but  the  effort  was  utterly  useless."  They  de- 
stroyed every  green  leaf.  "  I  saw  large  fig  orchards 
'  clean  bare,'  not  a  leaf  remaining ;  and  as  the  bark  of  the 
fig  tree  is  of  a  silvery  whiteness,  the  whole  orchards,  thus 
rifled  of  their  green  veils,  spread  abroad  their  branches 
'  made  white,'  in  melancholy  nakedness  to  the  burning 
sun." — Land  and  the  Book. 

What  would  be  the  condition  of  the  people  after  such 
a  visitation? 

This  is  symbolical  of  the  destruction  God  will  bring 
upon  the  wicked. 

Message  for  To-day  :  "  The  day  of  the  Lord,"  v.  2. 
"  This  is,  as  never  before,  the  day  of  MAN,  Progress, 
invention,  culture,  are  helping  to  make  man  imagine  that 
he  can  do  without  God,  and  there  is  a  tendency  everywhere 
to  deify  human  reason  and  human  ability.  The  results 
are  disastrous  to  all  that  is  highest  and  best  in  human  pos- 
sibility. When  these  facts  overwhelm  us  our  hope  is  in 
the  assurance  that  the  day  of  the  Lord  is  now  present  and 
yet  in  all  its  majesty  is  yet  to  come." 


1 80     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TWENTY-SIXTH  WEEK.     PUNISHMENT   AND 
DELIVERANCE. 


Fifth  Day  :  Joel  2 :  12-20.    God  May  Hear  Even  Yet. 
What  is  the  meaning  of  vs.  12-14? 


"  Rend  your  hearts  and  not  your  garments,"  v.  13,  calls 
for  what  kind  of  religion  ? 


Memorize  v.  13. 

What  is  implied  as  to  their  worship  heretofore  ? 


He  calls  them  to  prayer,  v.  15. 
How  extensive  is  the  call?     V.  16. 


What  prayer  are  they  to  make  ? 


In  answer  to  their  prayer  Jehovah  promises  to  remove 
the  locusts — they  are  called  the  "  northern  army." 

Notice  the  two  things  necessary :  heart  service  and  a 
realization  of  God's  goodness. 

When  the  prodigal  decided  to  go  home  (Luke  15), 
which  moved  him  most,  the  misery  he  was  in  or  the 
thought  of  a  loving  father  waiting  to  receive  him  ? 

Prayer  :  "  My  transgressions,  O  Lord,  are  multiplied, 
and  I  am  not  worthy  to  behold  and  see  the  height  of 
heaven  for  the  multitude  of  my  iniquities.  I  have  pro- 
voked Thy  wrath,  and  done  evil  before  Thee :  I  did  not 
Thy  will,  neither  kept  I  Thy  commandments.  Now, 
therefore,  I  bow  the  knee  of  mine  heart,  beseeching  Thee 
of  grace.  I  have  sinned,  O  Lord,  I  have  sinned,  and  I 
acknowledge  mine  iniquities  :  wherefore  I  humbly  beseech 
Thee,  forgive  me,  O  Lord,  forgive  me,  and  destroy  me 
not  with  mine  iniquities.     Amen." 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets     i8i 


TWENTY-SIXTH  WEEK.     PUNISHMENT  AND 
DELIVERANCE. 


Sixth  Day  :  Joel  2  \2\-2'j.    Promise  of  Rain. 

4.  The  promise  of  rain,  2  :2i-27. 
What  is  the  promise  of  vs.  21-23? 


What  is  meant  by  "  former  rain,"  "  latter  rain  "  ? 
Why  was  this  done  ?    V.  27. 


Summary :  Scourge  of  locusts ;  great  drought ;  prayer ; 
promise  of  removal  of  locusts ;  promise  of  abundant  rain. 
Notice  that  so  far  it  has  been  only  temporal  relief. 

V.  25  was  written  on  the  walls  of  a  rescue  mission  in 
New  York.    Comp.  1 14  and  tell  why  it  was  appropriate. 

Read  Ps.  27:1-6. 


1 82     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TWENTY-SIXTH  WEEK.     PUNISHMENT  AND 
DELIVERANCE. 


Seventh  Day  :  Joel  i  :i-2  \2.y.    The  Scourge — Locusts 
AND  Drought. 

Read  chs.  i  and  2  and  fill  out  the  following : 

Part  I.     1 :2-2  -.2^. 

1.  1 :2-i4. 

2-4. 

5-7- 

8-12. 

13-14. 

2.  15-20. 

3.  2:1-11. 

12-20. 

4.  2:21-27. 

Message  for  To-day  :  "  Your  sons  shall  prophesy,"  v. 
28.  Paul  sums  up  the  teachings  of  the  twelfth  and  thir- 
teenth chapters  of  first  Corinthians  in  the  first  verse  of  the 
fourteenth  chapter,  when  he  says,  "  Follow  after  love ;  yet 
desire  earnestly  spiritual  gifts,  but,"  he  goes  on,  "rather 
that  ye  may  prophesy."  To  prophesy,  both  in  Old  Testa- 
ment times  and  in  New  Testament  times,  as  well  as  now, 
was  and  is  what  God  wants,  and  prophesying  is  witness- 
ing.   We  are  in  the  world  to  be  witnesses.    Acts  i  :8. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets     183 


TWENTY-SEVENTH     WEEK.        THE     HOLY 
SPIRIT    AND    DELIVERANCE. 


First  Day:  Joel  2:28-32.     Acts  2:17-21.     Promise 
OF  THE  Spirit. 

Up  to  this  point  we  have  had  the  historical  occasion 
looking  into  the  past ;  we  come  now  to  the  prophecy 
itself,  looking  into  the  future. 

Part  II.  The  Holy  Spirit  and  DeHverance,  2:28-3:21. 

As  the  preceding  passages  referred  to  temporal  relief, 
this  refers  to  spiritual. 

The  promise  of  the  Spirit's  outpouring,  v.  28,  is  sug- 
gested by  the  promise  of  rain. 

What  were  to  be  the  characteristics  of  the  time 
spoken  of  here  ? 


What  is  the  promise  of  vs.  28,  29? 
When  was  it  fulfilled? 


Cf .  The  wish  of  Moses  in  Numb.  1 1 :29. 

Was  this  promise  entirely  fulfilled  at  Pentecost? 


Message  for  To-day  :  "  Your  young  men  shall  see 
znsions."  What  a  miserable  place  this  world  would  be 
if  there  were  no  visions.  If  Moody  had  not  seen  visions 
of  recitation  halls  and  dormitories  on  the  hillsides  of 
Northfield  and  Mount  Hermon;  if  Mott  had  not  seen 
visions  of  the  students  of  the  world  united  in  Christian 
effort;  if  Edison  and  Marconi  and  Morse  and  all  the 
rest  of  them  had  not  had  their  visions !  May  our  young 
men  see  visions ! 


184     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TWENTY-SEVENTH     WEEK.        THE     HOLY 
SPIRIT    AND    DELIVERANCE. 


Second   Day:   Joel   3:1-8.    Enemies   Will   be   De- 
stroyed. 

The  promise  made  in  these  verses  is  suggested  by 
the  promised  destruction  of  the  locusts.  What  is  the 
promise  ? 


What  nations  are  referred  to  in  these  verses?, 

What  was  their  sin? 

Write  out  a  summary  of  chs.  i  and  2. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets     185 


TWENTY-SEVENTH     WEEK.        THE     HOLY 
SPIRIT    AND    DELIVERANCE. 


Third  Day:  Joel  3:9-13.    The  Assembly. 

A  call  to  the  nations  to  assemble :  God  is  ready  to 
judge. 

Jchoshaphat,  v.  12.     Jehovah  judges. 
What  does  the  prophet  mean  by  v.  13? 


Contrast  v.  10  with  Micah  4:3,  and  state  why  these 
sayings  are  so  different. 

Notice  the  repetition  of  the  word  come  in  vs.  9,   11, 
12,  13. 

Write  out  the  substance  of  this  section. 


1 86      The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TWENTY-SEVENTH     WEEK.        THE     HOLY 
SPIRIT    AND    DELIVERANCE. 


Fourth  Day  :  Joel  3  :i4-iy.     The  Judgment. 

We  have  again  the  closing  promise  so  frequent  in  the 
Minor  Prophets. 

Cf.  the  words  of  Jesus  in  Matt.  24  and  25. 

"  There  are  two  classes  in  the  world :  those  who  call 
on  God,  those  who  do  not.  There  is  a  day  of  judgment 
when  one  shall  receive  blessings,  the  other  destruction." 
What  you  are  doing  now  determines  which  class  you 
will  be  in  hereafter. 


Summary : 

Locusts  :  Locusts  destroyed ;  enemies  destroyed. 

Drought:  rain;  outpouring  of  Spirit. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets      187 


TWENTY-SEVENTH     WEEK.        THE     HOLY 
SPIRIT    AND    DELIVERANCE. 


Fifth  Day:  Joel  3:18-21.     The  Glorious  Future. 

We  have  here  again  at  the  close  of  the  prophecy  the 
promise  of  restoration. 

What  is  the  promise  here? 


What  do  these  verses  show  concerning  God's  power 
and  authority  over  other  nations  than  the  chosen  people? 


How  many  times  these  messengers  of  God,  after  de- 
nouncing judgment  upon  a  sinful  people,  in  terms  so 
severe  that  there  seems  to  be  no  way  of  escape,  turn 
at  last  to  assure  their  hearers  that  God  is  a  God  of 
mercy,  that  "  He  will  not  always  chide^,  neither  will  He 
keep  His  anger  forever." 

Fill  out  the  following  outline: 
Part  II.  2:28-3:21. 


I. 


Conclusion,  3:18-21. 


1 88     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TWENTY-SEVENTH     WEEK.        THE     HOLY 
SPIRIT    AND    DELIVERANCE. 


Sixth  Day:  Joel  3:18.     The  Messianic  Prophecy. 
What  is  the  prophecy  of  this  verse? 


Cf.  Ezek.  47:1-12. 

The  teaching-  of  the  book  concerning  prayer.  Read 
I  :i4,  19;  2:12,  13,  15-17,  32;  and  tell  what  Joel  teaches 
on  this  great  subject. 


Message  for  To-day:  The  Spirit  comes  to  qualify 
men  for  bearing  witness,  3:28  (cf.  Acts  1:8).  When 
the  apostles  testified  with  such  power  that  multitudes 
were  won  for  Christ,  Peter  said  the  prophecy  of  Joel 
was  being  fulfilled.  Are  you  living  such  a  life  that  it 
may  be  fulfilled  in  you?  Are  you  seeking  the  Spirit  for 
some  other  purpose  ? 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets      189 


TWENTY-SEVENTH     WEEK.        THE     HOLY 
SPIRIT    AND    DELIVERANCE. 


Seventh    Day:    Joel    Chs.    i,    2,    3.     The   Day   of 
Jehovah. 

Read  the  book  through  and  see  how  it  tells  about  the 
day  of  Jehovah. 


The  Message  of  Joel :  "  Our  message  to  the  age  must 
always  be  that  of  the  Divine  supremacy,  of  the  Divine 
immanence,  of  the  Divine  activity.  We  want  to  tell 
them  that  the  Lord  that  sitteth  in  the  heavens  laughs  at 
the  folly  of  their  rebellion,  and  weeps  over  the  misery 
of  their  sin,  and  waits  as  King  to  pardon  repenting 
souls.  Whenever  men  and  nations  return  to  the  Lord, 
His  mercy  receives  them  and  provides  escape  from  judg- 
ment. That  seems  to  me  to  be  the  great  and  marvel- 
lous message  of  Joel  to  this  age — the  God  of  govern- 
ment and  the  God  of  grace." 

Key  thought:  God  in  judgment  and  mercy. 

Key  word :  Judgment. 

Key  text:  2:13. 


190     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TWENTY-EIGHTH     WEEK.      SALVATION     TO 
THE   UTTERMOST. 


First  Day:  Jonah   1:1-6.     The  Mission  Disobeyed. 

The  book  falls  naturally  into  four  parts,  corresponding 
nearly  with  the  division  into  chapters. 

What  do  we  know  about  the  authorship  of  the  book  ? 


Note  that  Jonah  is  always  spoken  of  in  the  third  person, 
never  in  the  first.  The  book  does  not  claim  to  have  been 
written  by  Jonah.  It  has  been  called  "  The  Prophetic 
Story  of  Jonah." 

What  do  we  know  about  Jonah  ?  i  :i,  9. ;  2  Kings  14 :25. 


What  is  the  subject  of  ch.  i  ? 

Where  was  Nineveh  ? 

What  are  we  told  about  it?     Cf.  Nahum  2  :i-7. 

Where  was  Tarshish? 

What  was  the  command  to  Jonah  ? 

What  does  "  cry  against  it,"  v.  2,  mean  ? 

Where  was  Joppa  ? 

What  did  Jonah  do  in  answer  to  God's  command  ? 

Why  did  he  fly?    4:2. 

What  happened  when  Jonah  disobeyed  ? 

Memorize  v.  6. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets     191 


TWENTY-EIGHTH     WEEK.      SALVATION     TO 
THE   UTTERMOST. 


Second   Day:   Jonah    1:7-17.     The   Missionary   in 
Trouble. 

What  method  did  the  sailors  use  to  detect  Jonah  ?     Cf . 
Acts  I  -.26. 


What  was  Jonah  doing?     Cf.  Jesus  asleep  in  the  ship. 

"  Where  guilt  is  there  is  peril ;  where  Christ  is  there  is 
safety." 

This  has  been  called  Jonah's  punishment ;  another  has 
said  it  is  rather  his  conversion. 

What  can  you  say,  from  the  prayer  in  v.  14  and  from 
V.  16,  had  been  the  effect  on  the  sailors? 


Note :  The  sailors  turn  to  God  and  are  saved. 

Contrast  the  tender  care  of  these  heathen  sailors  for 
Jonah,  God's  prophet,  with  Israel's  treatment  of  the 
prophets  and  Jonah's  treatment  of  God. 

The  fish  swallows  Jonah :  "  Man  can  build  a  submarine 
boat  to  carry  a  hundred  passengers,  but  they  deny  the 
great  God  the  power  to  prepare  a  fish  to  carry  one." — 
Morgan. 

"  And  this  is  the  tragedy  of  the  book  of  Jonah,  that  a 
book  which  is  made  the  means  of  one  of  the  most  sublime 
revelations  of  truth  in  the  Old  Testament  should  be  known 
to  most  only  for  its  connection  with  a  whale." 


192     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TWENTY-EIGHTH     WEEK.      SALVATION     TO 
THE   UTTERMOST. 


Third  Day  :  Jonah  2  :i-io.    A  Prayer. 
What  is  the  subject  of  ch.  2? 


What  thought  is  in  Jonah's  mind  as  he  sings  this 
prayer-song  ? 

What  Psalms  does  he  refer  to?  Use  the  marginal 
references. 


What  does  he  pray  for? 

Read  Ps.  130. 

Note :  Jonah  turns  to  God  and  is  saved. 

Prayer  :  "  O  Thou  forgiving  God,  how  often  like  Thy 
servant  in  the  olden  days  we  have  been  disobedient  to 
Thy  command.  In  great  mercy  bear  with  us  in  our 
stubbornness,  forgive  our  wilfulness  and  speak  to  us 
again,  so  that  we  may  obey.  As  Thou  didst  listen  to  the 
crying  of  thy  disobedient  servant  as  he  turned  to  Thee, 
so  listen  to  us  to-day,  for  Jesus'  sake.     Amen." 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets     193 


TWENTY-EIGHTH     WEEK.      SALVATION     TO 
THE   UTTERMOST. 


Fourth  Day:  Jonah  3:1-10.    Another  Chance. 
What  is  the  subject  of  ch.  3  ? 


"  Having  learned  thro'  suffering  his  moral  kinship  with 
the  heathen,  and  having  offered  his  life  for  some  of  them, 
Jonah  receives  a  second  commission  to  go  to  Nineveh." 

His  second  commission,  vs.  i,  2. 

How  does  this  call  differ  from  the  first  ? 


Note  his  simple  obedience. 

What  does  he  mean  by  "0/  three  days'  journey^'} 
V.  3- 


What  did  he  preach  ? 

What  was  the  result  of  his  preaching? 


Upon  the  people?    V.  5. 

Upon  the  king?    V.  6. 

What  was  done  ? 

What  were  the  people  urged  to  do  ?    V.  8. 


Note :  The  Ninevites  turn  to  God  and  are  saved, 
v.  10,  cf.  Nahum  2:13. 

"The  purpose  of  the  parable  (of  Jonah),  and  it  is 
patent  from  first  to  last,  is  to  illustrate  the  mission  of 
prophecy  to  the  Gentiles,  God's  care  of  them,  and  their 
susceptibility  to  His  word." 


194     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TWENTY-EIGHTH     WEEK.      SALVATION     TO 
THE   UTTERMOST. 


Fifth    Day:   Jonah    4:1-11.     A   Disgruntled    Mis- 
sionary. 

What  is  the  subject  of  ch.  4? 

Why  was  Jonah  displeased  ? 

Does  Deut.  18:21,  22  throw  any  hght  on  the  reason? 


Note  God's  question,  v.  4,  and  that  Jonah  instead  of 
answering  just  sulks. 

Why  did  he  go  out  and  watch  the  city  ?     V.  5. 


How  does  God  rebuke  him  ? 

What  is  the  meaning  of  vs.  10,  11  ? 

What  kind  of  people  are  referred  to  in  v.  11? 


Make  an  outline  of  the  book  based  on  the  studies  for 
the  week. 


Key  thought :  True  repentance  brings  salvation. 

Key  word :  Repent. 

Key  text:  3:10;  see  also  Jer.  18:7,  8. 

"  In  this  book  the  prophecy  of  Israel  quits  the  scene  of 
battle  as  victor,  and  as  victor  in  its  severest  struggle — that 
against  self." 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets      195 


TWENTY-EIGHTH     WEEK.      SALVATION     TO 
THE   UTTERMOST. 


Sixth  Day  :  Jonah  1-4. 

One  purpose  of  the  book  of  Jonah  was  "  to  teach  in 
opposition  to  the  narrow,  exclusive  view  which  was  too 
apt  to  be  popular  with  the  Jews,  that  God's  purposes  of 
grace  are  not  hmited  to  Israel  alone,  but  that  they  are  open 
to  the  heathen  as  well,  if  only  they  abandon  their  sinful 
courses  and  turn  to  Him  in  true  penitence." 

"  The  truth  which  we  find  in  the  book  of  Jonah  is  as 
full  and  fresh  a  revelation  of  God's  will  as  prophecy  any- 
where achieves.  That  God  has  granted  to  the  Gentiles 
also  repentance  unto  life  is  nowhere  else  in  the  Old  Testa- 
ment so  vividly  illustrated." 


Make  a  study  of  the  book  as  a  call  to  foreign  mission 
service : 

1.  God  is  conscious  of  the  heathen's  need. 

2.  The  command  to  go  to  the  heathen. 

3.  Disobedience  and  unrest. 

4.  Obedience. 

5.  Hard  work  and  discouragement  on  the  field. 


"  I  have  read  the  book  of  Jonah  at  least  a  hundred  times, 
and  I  will  publicly  avow,  for  I  am  not  ashamed  of  my 
weakness,  that  I  cannot  even  now  take  up  this  marvellous 
book,  nay,  not  even  speak  of  it,  without  the  tears  rising 
to  my  eyes,  and  my  heart  beating  higher.  This  appar- 
ently trivial  book  is  one  of  the  deepest  and  grandest  that 
was  ever  written,  and  I  should  like  to  say  to  every  one 
who  approaches  it,  '  Take  ofif  thy  shoes,  for  the  place 
whereon  thou  standest  is  holy  ground.'  " — Cornill. 


196     The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets 


TWENTY-EIGHTH     WEEK.      SALVATIQN     TO 
THE   UTTERMOST. 


Seventh  Day  :  Ps.  95. 

How  shall  we  interpret  the  book  of  Jonah  ? 

"  The  sea  represents  death  and  judgment.  Jonah  went 
into  it  willingly,  unresistingly,  yet  not  of  his  own  act.  The 
hands  of  Gentiles  cast  him  forth.  In  due  time  Jesus  laid 
down  His  own  life,  yet  not  by  His  own  act.  The  hands  of 
Gentiles  nailed  Him  to  the  cross.  Jonah  went  down  out 
of  sight  into  the  abyss,  and  the  sea  was  calm ;  the  element 
that  had  threatened  to  destroy  the  seamen  bore  them  safely 
up  and  onward.  So  Jesus  went  down,  not  into  sorrow 
merely,  but  into  judgment ;  fell  under  the  power  of  death, 
and  was  confined  within  the  bars  of  the  grave ;  and  lo,  the 
sea  is  calm  to  us,  there  is  deliverance  from  going  down 
into  the  pit,  for  God  has  found  a  ransom;  and  in  right- 
eousness which  reproved  and  threatened  us,  now  forms 
our  protection  and  support." 

"  But  in  the  book  of  Jonah  ...  we  see  a  great 
recovery  and  expansion  of  the  best  elements  of  prophecy. 
God's  character  and  Israel's  true  mission  to  the  world  are 
revealed  in  the  spirit  of  Hosea  and  the  sea  of  the  Exile, 
with  much  of  the  tenderness,  the  insight,  the  analysis  of 
character  and  even  the  humor  of  classic  prophecy.  These 
qualities  raise  the  book  of  Jonah,  tho'  it  is  probably  the 
last  of  our  twelve,  to  the  highest  rank  among  them.  No 
book  is  more  worthy  to  stand  by  the  side  of  Isaiah 
XL-LV ;  none  is  nearer  in  spirit  to  the  New  Testament." 

What  the  book  teaches  : 

1.  That  it  is  wrong  for  a  prophet  to  attempt  to  evade 

God's  command.     To  show  a  prophet's  duty: 

a.  To  deliver  God's  message,  whatever  it  is. 

b.  To  be  fearless. 

c.  Not  to  be  terrified  about  the  fulfilment. 

2.  To  illustrate  Jer.  187,  8. 

To  show  that  prophecies  were  conditional. 

3.  God's  treatment  of  heathen  a  warning  to  Israel. 

4.  God's  care  of  those  outside. 


The  Message  of  the  Twelve  Prophets     197 


TESTIMONY  AS  TO  WHAT  THE  MESSAGE  IS. 

"  The  sacred  thought  embodied  in  these  varied  Scrip- 
tures is  at  once  varied  and  the  same.  Hosea  loves  to 
dwell  upon  God's  yearning  love,  the  love  of  the  husband 
for  the  fallen  wife,  the  love  of  the  father  for  his  prodigal 
son.  Amos  takes  his  stand  for  morals  as  against  religion 
itself,  when  the  two  have  irreligiously  clashed.  Micah 
presents  the  true  and  the  false  prophecy  contending  in  the 
struggles  of  daily  life.  But  other  themes  grow  together 
into  the  one  prophetic  theme  of  judgment — the  Hebrew 
counterpart  of  our  modern  providence.  With  Nahum  it 
is  a  judgment  upon  the  foe,  as  a  form  of  mercy  to  God's 
people ;  Jonah  comes  as  a  corrective,  with  the  thought  of 
y'  Jehovah's  mercy  extending  outside  His  people  to  the  six- 
7^'  score  thousand  innocents  of  Nineveh.  The  mystery  of 
judgment  which  troubled  the  wise  men  of  Israel — the 
impunity  of  the  wicked — appears  in  Habakkuk  magnified 
to  the  scale  of  nations ;  this  prophet's  problem  is  the  sight 
of  the  Chaldean  allowed  to  prosper  and  punish  wicked- 
ness less  great  than  his  own.  Several  of  the  prophecies 
are  filled  with  a  '  Day  of  the  Lord  ' ;  the  judgment  regu- 
larly appears  as  a  visitation  first  upon  Israel,  to  destroy 
the  evil  that  is  in  it ;  then  there  is  a  purification  and  restora- 
tion, and  finally  a  judgment  between  Israel  and  the  na- 
tions ;  there  is  at  the  last  an  inauguration  of  a  heaven, 
but  it  is  a  heaven  upon  earth." 

What  message  has  come  to  you  from  these  studies  ? 


"  WHo  is  wise  and  he  shall  understand  these  things  ? 
Prudent  and  he  shall  know  them  ? 
For  the  ways  of  the  Lord  are  right, 
And  the  just  shall  walk  in  them : 
But  transgressors  shall  fall  therein !  " 
— Hos.  14  :g. 


Date 

Book 

Against  which 
Kingdom? 

Key  Thought 

Key  Word 

Key  Text 

Outline 

Amos . . . 
Hosea... 

Micah... 

Zepha- 
niah.. 

Nahum. . 

Habak- 
kvOi... 

Obadiah 

Haggai. . 

Zecha- 
riah... 

Malachi . 

Joel 

Jonah . . . 

Date  Due 

Rye    w 

N  I  ,^^- 

17 

JlO^'^l 

A         '^ 

V 

' 

— 

» 

5 

y.  '■' .' 

i 

i 

^ 

BS1560.M984 

The  message  of  the  twelve  prophets, 

Princeton  Theological  Seminary-Speer  Library 


